New All Blacks coach Dave Rennie will focus on culture and clarity as he build to next year’s Rugby World Cup (RWC) in Australia.
And his experience overseas is expected to put to good use.
The Wallabies head coach for three seasons until 2023, Rennie will lead NZ to next year’s RWC, replacing former Crusaders coach Scott Robertson who was released by NZ Rugby.
“We need to focus on culture. It’s a key part of our game. I can assure you we’re clear on that and it will be driven within,” Rennie told a NZ Rugby press conference livestreamed on YouTube today; click here to watch the video.
“Players will have to earn the right to wear the jersey. That’s exciting. We’ll pick on form.”
In his time as coach in Glasgow, Australia and Japan, Rennie says he has learnt from working with some “fantastic people”.
“I’m clear on the game we want to play and the athletes we need,” he says.
“I have firm ideas on the shifts we need to make.”
ALL BLACKS EYES ON BOKS
And he is looking to the All Blacks six-week tour of South Africa to add “clarity”.
“I’m really excited about the six-week tour of SA with 40-odd players,” he told journalists.
“It’s a chance to drive culture and come away with genuine clarity 12 months from the RWC.”
On his overseas experience, he says: “In NZ, we don’t understand quality of game in the north (Northern Hemisphere).
“Innovation is not driven here (Southern Hemisphere). Fantastic rugby is played up there.
“My time at Glasgow made me realise about the quality of the game. We will need to work hard to be brilliant at our game.”
NZ Rugby Chairman David Kirk says Rennie has a proven track record as a successful head coach at all levels.
“Dave has international coaching experience; lots of experience. He explained to us how to systematically build culture and how to build a winning culture in modern rugby,” Kirk, a former All Blacks captain, says.
WALLABIES TIME
On his time as Wallabies coach, Rennie says he has “no regrets”.
“I learnt a lot from coaching there,” he says.
“It wasn’t an ideal end for me but I felt more for 13-14 players who should have gone but didn’t go to the RWC with me.”
He hinted that he would like to see former All Black Brodie Retallick return to New Zealand after watching him play in Japan and believes playmaker Richie Mounga I returning in peak form.
Rennie was Wallabies coach for three seasons until he was sacked at the start of 2023 before the RWC in Europe and replaced by Eddie Jones who led the Wallabies to their worst Cup performance.
Rennie will finish the season with Kobelco Kobe Steelers in Japan then return to New Zealand to prepare the All Blacks for July home games against France, Italy and Ireland.
He led the NZ Under-20s team to three straight junior world titles (2008-2010), guided the Chiefs to Super Rugby titles in 2012 and 2013 and took the Glasgow Warriors (UK) to a Pro14 final in 2019.
