'They've turned on him': Former All Black slams RA's decision to axe Rennie
Rugby Australia’s staggering decision to axe coach Dave Rennie eight months out from this year’s World Cup has not gone down well across the ditch.
Former All Blacks first-five Stephen Donald has slammed the decision, as he spoke about how New Zealand coaches wouldn’t want to “go anywhere near Australia.”
The Wallabies are coming off a disastrous campaign in 2022, which saw them come painfully close to recording their worst season since 1958.
While an incredible comeback win over Wales in Cardiff saw the men in gold avoid that unwanted feat, they only won five of their 14 test matches throughout the year.
The writing was already on the wall for Rennie.
Speculation over Rennie’s future has been rife for quite some time now, but seemed to shift into second gear after a historic loss to Italy.
Then, last month, the Rugby Football Union made the sensational decision to sack World Cup specialist Eddie Jones.
The rumour mill was well and truly in full swing.
According to multiple reports, a potential homecoming for the Australian-born Jones was on the cards – but in what role remained unknown.
But on Monday morning, Rugby Australia put any rumours to bed, as they confirmed that Jones would replace Rennie as head coach.
World Cup hero Stephen Donald, who won two Super Rugby titles at the Chiefs under Rennie, believes Rugby Australia “turned on” the talented coach.
“What Dave Rennie is, is he’s probably tactically, technically as good as a Wayne Smith, but he’s also got this ability to mould people,” Donald said on SENZ Breakfast.
“He’s your man next door, he’s the guy that you could go and have a beer with. He plays the guitar, he is all encompassing, he is the complete package as a rugby coach for me.
“He’s without peer in my career as far as where I’d hold him.
“We look back three years, and I thought that was genius. I remember talking to a couple of the Aussie greats at the Japan World Cup when it had all gone t*** up for Aussie again… I said ‘you’ve got to get Rennie, it’s your only hope.’
“They’ve turned on him. You go over the history of Kiwi coaches over there, if you’re a Kiwi coach who has a career in front of him, you wouldn’t go anywhere near Australia.”
Rennie isn’t the first New Zealand-born coach to put pen to paper with traditional rivals Australia, as they look to further their careers.
But unfortunately for Rennie, the 59-year-old also joins a notable list of coaches who have failed to succeed after crossing the Tasman Sea.
“Robbie Deans went there as the most successful Super Rugby coach, highly respected, had already had time in the All Blacks,” he added.
“If it wasn’t for that semi-final against Australia with Mitch then they would have probably been rolled over another campaign, that didn’t happen so Robbie goes and (is) … then takes the Aussie job.
“Robbie… takes the Aussie job and he lasts a few years, and then the political beasts within Australian rugby get rid of him.
“Kiwis are an easy hit there in Australia.
“They go and get Dave Rennie who in my opinion, counts for nothing, but my opinion he’s the best one (coach) I’ve had, and I’ve had some decent ones. He clearly has been done over again politically.
“Eddie Jones, I can see why they’ve gone this (way), I really do, but it just shows if you’re a Kiwi going over there, you are on a hiding to nothing.
“Australian rugby looks like they’re not actually prepared to confront their own issues… like why aren’t you producing a Larkham anymore? Why isn’t there no Stirling Morlocks coming through?
“The All Blacks this year, yep we haven’t had a great year but never once did you think ‘we just don’t have the players anymore.’
“That’s why I’ve got money on them (New Zealand) to win the World Cup, because I was that confident looking at this group. They’re still, in my opinion when they get going, they’ll be as good as anyone in the world.”
Incoming Wallabies coach Eddie Jones returns to Australian-shores with an unparalleled list of achievements to his name.
After guiding the Wallabies to a World Cup final in 2003, Jones won the sports ultimate prize with the champion Springboks four years later.
The 62-year-old also coached England to a World Cup final in Japan four years ago, which included a famous semi-final win over rivals the All Blacks.
And while it may not be his crowning achievement, Jones also led Japan to an incredible win over the Springboks at the 2015 World Cup.
Wherever Jones goes, success seems to follow – and that bodes well for the future of Australian rugby.
Jones has signed a five-year deal with Rugby Australia, which will include the British and Irish Lions tour in a couple of years.
Comments on RugbyPass
Why cant I watch Rugby games please?
1 Go to commentsBeautiful shot from Finau, end of story. Gutted for Shaun Stevenson though.
4 Go to commentsThe Chiefs definitely didn’t win ugly. They had the superior scrum, a dominant lineout, and their defence was excellent once the Waratahs scored their two tries (thanks to some lucky refereeing calls mind you). They put pressure on the Waratahs lineout throughout the game, and the mind boggles as to why the referee did not award a yellow card or a penalty try against the Waratahs for repeated scrum infringements on their own try line before Narawa’s first try. And the Chiefs were slick with their passing and running angles on attack. It was a dominant performance all round, even with many questionable refereeing decisions.
1 Go to commentsWasnt late. Ref 2 assistants andTMO all saw it so who are you to say it was?
4 Go to commentsAre the Brumbies playing the Blues twice in a row?
4 Go to commentsBig difference from the Saders. Forwards really muscled up and laid a solid platform. Scooter brought some steel and I liked the loosie combination. Newell has been rather disappointing this season but stepped up big time - happy also to see Franks dot down. He should do that more often! Reihana had a good game and there seems to be more flair and invention with him in the saddle. McNicoll plays well from the back and is reliable plus inventive when he joins the line. Keep it up chaps!
3 Go to comments🤦♂️🤣 who cares who’s the best . All I know is the All Blacks have the star coach but have few star players now …
30 Go to commentsJe suis sûr que Farrell est impatient de jouer avec Lopez et Machenaud et d’être entraîné par Collazo… 🤭
1 Go to commentsAn on field red (aka a full red) in SRP must surely carry a bigger suspension than a red card given by the bunker as that carries a 20 minute team punishment. Had Damon Murphy abdicated his responsibility as a ref and issued both Drua players a yellow, which would have been upgraded to a 20 minute red by the bunker, that would have killed Australia and New Zealand’s push for the 20 minute red to be trialled globally from July this year.
11 Go to commentsEver so often you all post a Danny Care story that isn’t the announcement that he has finally re-signed for one more, victory tour season at Quins and I’m just like, “well you fooled me again!” My absolute favorite player ever, we need to make his final year at the Stoop (and Twickers) official already. I know he supposedly snubbed France but I won’t feel better until he signs.
1 Go to commentslate hit what late hit it wasn’t at all late and can clearly see he was committed before the tackle
4 Go to commentsChristian Lio -Willies 2 try perfomance was a standout. As was captain Scott Barrett. Up front was where the boys won it.They are a great team and players. Fantastic Crusaders , you can keep going.
3 Go to commentsI don't know how the locals feel about that? I guess if you call yourselves the Worcester Wasps that might be appease. But really we need more teams in the Premiership in my view so they are not padding it out as they are at the moment. It might curtail so many players going abroad as well
5 Go to commentsNZ 😭😭😭is certainly rivaling England for best whingers cup!😭😭😭 !!!
30 Go to commentsYup. New Zealand won 3 out of 10 world cups played. SA 4 out of 8 attempts 30 Vs 50 per cent.🤔🤔
30 Go to commentsShould've done this years ago. Change Saturday kick off times to around 11am. Up and off and back home before 3pm, limit travel time too. Allows players to actually do something else with their Saturday that's family oriented or being rugby fans they could ‘watch’ pro rugby. Increases crowds etc. How can anyone that enjoys grassroots and pro rugby have to choose between the two on Saturdays?
9 Go to commentsI bet he inspired those supporters just as much.
1 Go to commentsBen Smith Springboks living rent free in his head 😊😂
67 Go to commentsGood to hear he would like to play the game at the highest level, I hadn’t been to sure how much of a motivator that was before now. Sadly he’s probably chosen the rugby club to go to. Try not to worry about all the input about how you should play rugby Joey and just try to emulate what you do on the league field and have fun. You’ll limit your game too much (well not really because he’s a standard athlete like SBW and he’ll still have enough) if you’re trying to make sure you can recycle the ball back etc. On the other hard, you can totally just try and recycle by looking to offload any and everywhere if you’re going to ground 😋
1 Go to commentsThis just proves that theres always a stat and a metric to use to justify your abilities and your success. Ben did it last week by creating an imaginary competition and now you did the same to counter his argument and espouse a new yardstick for success. Why not just use the current one and lets say the Boks have won 4 world cups making them the most successful world cup team. Outside of the world cup the All Blacks are the most successful team winning countless rugby championships and dominating the rankings with high win percentages. Over the last 4 years statistically the Irish are the best having the highest win rate and also having positive records against every tier 1 side. The most successful Northern team in the game has been England with a world cup title and the most six nations titles in history. The AB’s are the most dominant team in history with the highest win rate and 3 world cups. Lets not try to reinvent the wheel. Just be honest about the actual stats and what each team has been good at doing and that will be enough to define their level of success.
30 Go to comments