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'We're certainly not celebrating in the change-room' - Rennie demands more from Wallabies after thrilling draw with All Blacks

By AAP
Wallabies boss Dave Rennie. (Getty)

One of the most pleasing things for new Test coach Dave Rennie was the disappointment in the Wallabies changeroom after their 16-16 Bledisloe Cup draw in Wellington. Smashed 36-0 by the All Blacks the last time they played in New Zealand and without a win there in 19 years, a draw would have satisfied most Wallabies teams of late.

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But Rennie, who took over from Michael Cheika after their World Cup disappointment, described it as a missed opportunity given their second-half dominance.

With three more Tests to play in the series, the next at Auckland’s Eden Park, the Wallabies only need to win their two matches at home to take the Bledisloe Cup trophy back after an 18-year absence.

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Wallabies | Bledisloe 1 2020 | Post match press conference

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Wallabies | Bledisloe 1 2020 | Post match press conference

“There’s three Tests left – we had to win three anyway and now we have to win two – so from that perspective it’s not a bad result but we’re certainly not satisfied with the draw,” Rennie said.

“We’ve had three weeks together and we will get a lot better but we know the All Blacks will be a lot better next week too. We’re disappointed as we had a chance today and didn’t take it so we’re certainly not celebrating in the change-room.”

The Kiwi coach has restored confidence in the players battered by years of trans-Tasman beat-downs, while the injection of new blood has also revived the Australian troops.

Their game plan troubled the All Blacks and their ability to change tactics to suit the wet and windy conditions also showed their growth.

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But Rennie was quick to highlight areas for improvement.

Apart from their game management in not going for a match-winning drop goal, he said their discipline – giving away 14 penalties – and work at the breakdown needed to improve

“We saw last year where the Wallabies hammered the All Blacks in Perth and then lost 36-0 the following week,” he said.

“For us it’s got to be how we back-up. What I liked seeing is the disappointment in the guys in the change-room.”

Rennie’s home town of Upper Hutt is just out of Wellington and he said his New Zealand-based family were now on board with the Wallabies.

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“It was pretty special for me personally as I had my three sons and partners, two grand-daughters, all wearing yellow and that impressed me. But in the end it’s about the team and I’m really proud of the effort.”

And while he didn’t deliver the Wallabies a winning drop goal, James O’Connor still earned high praise from coach Rennie in his return as Test five-eighth.

The 30-year-old hasn’t worn the Wallabies No.10 jersey since 2013, in the final British and Irish Lions Test in Sydney, but was rewarded for his stellar Super Rugby AU season, and he didn’t let Rennie down.

Playing his first Test in the halves alongside Nic White, O’Connor put the All Blacks defence on edge with his footwork and passing game.

He set up Australia’s first try with a long ball out to a flying Marika Koroibete which started their fightback from a 13-3 deficit.

And there were shades of 2011 when O’Connor stepped up in the 73rd minute to slot a penalty – at the same venue where he kicked Australia to a 11-9 World Cup quarter-final victory over the Springboks.

This time their opponents were able to level to claim the draw but it wasn’t from a lack of effort from the Wallabies.

Given the scoreline and O’Connor’s performance Rennie wasn’t able to give rising star Noah Lolesio his Test debut.

“I thought Rabs (O’Connor) was excellent,” Rennie said.

“I thought he controlled the game really well. It would have been nice if he’d got a better ball to slot a drop goal late but I think he’s going well.”

Making his debut as an 18-year-old in 2008, the golden boy of Australian rugby went off the tracks and became more known for his exploits off the field.

But O’Connor turned his life around while playing in Europe in 2018 and has been welcomed back into the Wallabies fold.

“I’ve been really impressed with him – he’s really matured and is very comfortable in his own skin,” Rennie said.

“He understands our game and he’s driven and very disciplined and so he’s made great shifts.”

Making his return to Test rugby last year O’Connor said it still felt an “honour” to be back in the gold jersey

“I’ve reflected on where I’ve come from in the last five or so years and I won’t forget what it felt like to be out and then coming back into the light,” O’Connor said.

“I vocalised it earlier in the year that I did run away from that 10 jersey after the Lions series and I feel like I did stunt my evolution as a player and a person so to be able to go out there and be my truth and play the way I was born to play, was very fulfilling.

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J
Jon 45 minutes ago
Jake White: Are modern rugby players actually better?

This is the problem with conservative mindsets and phycology, and homogenous sports, everybody wants to be the same, use the i-win template. Athlete wise everyone has to have muscles and work at the gym to make themselves more likely to hold on that one tackle. Do those players even wonder if they are now more likely to be tackled by that player as a result of there “work”? Really though, too many questions, Jake. Is it better Jake? Yes, because you still have that rugby of ole that you talk about. Is it at the highest International level anymore? No, but you go to your club or checkout your representative side and still engage with that ‘beautiful game’. Could you also have a bit of that at the top if coaches encouraged there team to play and incentivized players like Damian McKenzie and Ange Capuozzo? Of course we could. Sadly Rugby doesn’t, or didn’t, really know what direction to go when professionalism came. Things like the state of northern pitches didn’t help. Over the last two or three decades I feel like I’ve been fortunate to have all that Jake wants. There was International quality Super Rugby to adore, then the next level below I could watch club mates, pulling 9 to 5s, take on the countries best in representative rugby. Rugby played with flair and not too much riding on the consequences. It was beautiful. That largely still exists today, but with the world of rugby not quite getting things right, the picture is now being painted in NZ that that level of rugby is not required in the “pathway” to Super Rugby or All Black rugby. You might wonder if NZR is right and the pathway shouldn’t include the ‘amateur’, but let me tell you, even though the NPC might be made up of people still having to pull 9-5s, we know these people still have dreams to get out of that, and aren’t likely to give them. They will be lost. That will put a real strain on the concept of whether “visceral thrill, derring-do and joyful abandon” type rugby will remain under the professional level here in NZ. I think at some point that can be eroded as well. If only wanting the best athlete’s at the top level wasn’t enough to lose that, shutting off the next group, or level, or rugby players from easy access to express and showcase themselves certainly will. That all comes back around to the same question of professionalism in rugby and whether it got things right, and rugby is better now. Maybe the answer is turning into a “no”?

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j
john 3 hours ago
Will the Crusaders' decline spark a slow death for New Zealand rugby?

But here in Australia we were told Penney was another gun kiwi coach, for the Tahs…….and yet again it turned out the kiwi coach was completely useless. Another con job on Australian rugby. As was Robbie Deans, as was Dave Rennie. Both coaches dumped from NZ and promoted to Australia as our saviour. And the Tahs lap them up knowing they are second rate and knowing that under pressure when their short comings are exposed in Australia as well, that they will fall in below the largest most powerful province and choose second rate Tah players to save their jobs. As they do and exactly as Joe Schmidt will do. Gauranteed. Schmidt was dumped by NZ too. That’s why he went overseas. That why kiwi coaches take jobs in Australia, to try and prove they are not as bad as NZ thought they were. Then when they get found out they try and ingratiate themselves to NZ again by dragging Australian teams down with ridiculous selections and game plans. NZ rugby’s biggest problem is that it can’t yet transition from MCaw Cheatism. They just don’t know how to try and win on your merits. It is still always a contest to see how much cheating you can get away with. Without a cheating genius like McCaw, they are struggling. This I think is why my wise old mate in NZ thinks Robertson will struggle. The Crusaders are the nursery of McCaw Cheatism. Sean Fitzpatrick was probably the father of it. Robertson doesn’t know anything else but other countries have worked it out.

15 Go to comments
A
Adrian 5 hours ago
Will the Crusaders' decline spark a slow death for New Zealand rugby?

Thanks Nick The loss of players to OS, injury and retirement is certainly not helping the Crusaders. Ditto the coach. IMO Penny is there to hold the fort and cop the flak until new players and a new coach come through,…and that's understood and accepted by Penny and the Crusaders hierarchy. I think though that what is happening with the Crusaders is an indicator of what is happening with the other NZ SRP teams…..and the other SRP teams for that matter. Not enough money. The money has come via the SR competition and it’s not there anymore. It's in France, Japan and England. Unless or until something is done to make SR more SELLABLE to the NZ/Australia Rugby market AND the world rugby market the $s to keep both the very best players and the next rung down won't be there. They will play away from NZ more and more. I think though that NZ will continue to produce the players and the coaches of sufficient strength for NZ to have the capacity to stay at the top. Whether they do stay at the top as an international team will depend upon whether the money flowing to SRP is somehow restored, or NZ teams play in the Japan comp, or NZ opts to pick from anywhere. As a follower of many sports I’d have to say that the organisation and promotion of Super Rugby has been for the last 20 years closest to the worst I’ve ever seen. This hasn't necessarily been caused by NZ, but it’s happened. Perhaps it can be fixed, perhaps not. The Crusaders are I think a symptom of this, not the cause

15 Go to comments
T
Trevor 8 hours ago
Will forgotten Wallabies fit the Joe Schmidt model?

Thanks Brett.. At last a positive article on the potential of Wallaby candidates, great to read. Schmidt’s record as an international rugby coach speaks for itself, I’m somewhat confident he will turn the Wallaby’s fortunes around …. on the field. It will be up to others to steady the ship off the paddock. But is there a flaw in my optimism? We have known all along that Australia has the players to be very competitive with their international rivals. We know that because everyone keeps telling us. So why the poor results? A question that requires a definitive answer before the turn around can occur. Joe Schmidt signed on for 2 years, time to encompass the Lions tour of 2025. By all accounts he puts family first and that’s fair enough, but I would wager that his 2 year contract will be extended if the next 18 months or so shows the statement “Australia has the players” proves to be correct. The new coach does not have a lot of time to meld together an outfit that will be competitive in the Rugby Championship - it will be interesting to see what happens. It will be interesting to see what happens with Giteau law, the new Wallaby coach has already verbalised that he would to prefer to select from those who play their rugby in Australia. His first test in charge is in July just over 3 months away .. not a long time. I for one wish him well .. heaven knows Australia needs some positive vibes.

21 Go to comments
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