Dave Rennie has been appointed as the new coach of New Zealand, replacing the sacked Scott Robertson, as the All Blacks overlooked favourite for the job Jamie Joseph.
Rennie, who has previously coached the likes of Australia and Glasgow Warriors and is currently with Japanese side Kobe Steelers, will be charged with delivering a fourth World Cup triumph to the All Blacks next year – ending the recent domination of double reigning world champions South Africa.
The 62-year-old – who was born in Upper Hutt in the Wellington region of the country – becomes the first man of Pasifika heritage to coach New Zealand, having links to the Cook Islands through his mother, and began his introductory press conference in Auckland with the Maori greeting Kia orana koutou (which means “hello everyone”).
The extensive recruitment process began in mid-January when Robertson was surprisingly let go midway through his contract after failing to win the Rugby Championship last summer following losses to Argentina and the Springboks and then being handily defeated by England at Allianz Stadium, Twickenham, in the autumn.
Joseph, who was coached Japan to the most successful period in their history from 2016 to 2023 and is currently in charge of Super Rugby side the Highlanders, emerged as favourite for the role but after almost four hours of face-to-face interviews with the selection panel in Auckland on Tuesday, he was informed by chair of New Zealand Rugby David Kirk that he had missed out to Rennie.
“Jake (Joseph) messaged me immediately after he found out this morning, which shows the class of the man just congratulating me,” Rennie said in his press conference.
“I was hoping his interview was yesterday morning, mine was yesterday afternoon, so we could have a beer last night just to catch up. But I really appreciate his message.”
Rennie faces a huge challenge to overhaul the dominant Springboks and recognises how tough it will be to lead the All Blacks to a first World Cup success since 2015 when they head to Australia for the tournament next year.
“It’ll take a hell of a lot of work,” admitted Rennie. “By the time we start, we’ll have about 15 months to the World Cup. We need to get the athletes in the best possible position to execute and play well. It’s a sprint from here.
“I’m extremely proud and honoured [to get the job]. I’m well aware of the expectations and responsibility of the role I’m going to be in, but I’m really excited by it.”
Rennie first made waves in the coaching scene when he led New Zealand under-20s to three straight junior world titles from 2008 to 2010 before coaching the Chiefs to back-to-back Super Rugby crowns in 2012 and 2013.
A spell in Scotland with Glasgow Warriors followed before being appointed as Wallabies coach in late 2019, where he was in charge for 34 Tests before being given the boot in early 2023 for the ill-fated return of Eddie Jones.
His record as head coach of Australia – winning 13, drawing four and losing 18 Tests – is the worst of any Wallabies boss who has taken charge of at least 30 matches, although there were impressive victories over the All Blacks, Springboks and France during his tenure.
Kirk highlighted Rennie’s experience of coaching in a number of different tier one rugby-playing nations as a key factor in his appointment and the man himself, who will honour his contract with the Kobe Steelers before focussing on the All Blacks ahead of the summer Tests, said he would make team culture – which was questioned under Robertson – a priority.
“I’m probably not going to go into massive detail around what that is or the changes we want to make because I don’t want to throw anyone in the previous regime under the bus” added Rennie.
“But I’ve watched a lot of footy already. I’ve got some firm ideas around the shifts we can make that’ll make us better.”
How World Rugby is planning to make sport ‘quicker and simpler’
Dan Edwards makes Wales return in three changes for Ireland Six Nations showdown
What England’s radical selection against Italy says about their Six Nations campaign
Scotland coach urges team to ‘relish every minute’ of Six Nations clash with France
Steve Borthwick rings changes after England displays fail to meet his standards
