Sport liftout
‘He’ll take no prisoners’
No-one in New Zealand rugby is better placed than Wayne Smith to provide an accurate assessment of incoming Wallabies coach Dave Rennie.
For the disillusioned Australian fan with arms crossed yet to be sold on the most important Wallabies appointment in decades, here are some adjectives provided by Smith, a doyen of New Zealand rugby coaching, that may appease their concerns.
‘‘Relentless. Unwavering. Loyal.’’ And here’s the kicker: ‘‘He’ll take no prisoners’’.
Smith knows Rennie’s coaching ethos inside out and how his characteristics can translate to success with the Wallabies; a side reeling from a poor World Cup campaign that in reality most expected given the body of work presented in recent years.
Smith, who had already steered the Crusaders to Super Rugby titles in 1998 and 1999, before going on to coach the All Blacks, worked alongside Rennie as an assistant at the Chiefs.
In 2011, the year before the pair came on board, the Chiefs finished bottom of the New Zealand conference with six wins from 16 outings. A string of players exited stage left after the World Cup later that year and Rennie was tasked with rebuilding a weakened club with trusty sidekick Smith.
The result? Two Super Rugby titles in 2012 and 2013. Rennie’s reputation in New Zealand after that could not have been greater.
It wasn’t bad for a guy who began working as a school teacher and then ran a pub in Upper Hutt, near Wellington where he was born.
In the days since Rugby Australia chief executive Raelene Castle and director of rugby Scott Johnson confirmed Rennie had been rubber-stamped as just the second Kiwi – after Robbie Deans – to lead the men in gold, finding someone to speak ill of the 55-year-old has been a difficult task.
‘‘You don’t find anyone in New Zealand who says a bad word about him,’’ says 70-test All Blacks legend Andrew Mehrtens. ‘‘He stays out of the limelight, he wants to get in and do his job and do it as well as possible. He’ll pull together a group of guys and put his passion into it and wants them to get a good experience out of it. He’ll absolutely throw everything he can into the Wallabies.
‘‘He’s coached alongside the man I’ve probably got the most respect for in rugby, Wayne Smith, and Smithy can’t speak more highly of the guy.’’
After more than two decades of service, Smith left New Zealand rugby, but provides
insight as to why Rennie, who has six months or so left on his deal at Glasgow, could be Australian rugby’s genuine saviour.
‘‘He will be relentless in his pursuit of excellence and expects all around him to be the same,’’ Smith says. ‘‘He’ll take no prisoners in this regard. ‘Rens’ expects loyalty and trust then gives it back in spades.’’
Australian rugby fans so desperately wanted to believe Michael Cheika’s vision, even if it was blatantly obvious that change was needed after an underwhelming 2018.
Rennie has already said he does not expect a honeymoon period when he arrives in Australia in the middle of next year. He will be in close contact with Johnson, who Rennie worked alongside in Scotland, as well as Super Rugby coaches to ensure the players who arrive for Wallabies camp are physically and technically up to to scratch.
Unsurprisingly, Rennie’s rugby ideology is built around attack. Cheika’s was too – and it worked at times – but, ultimately, it brought about the Wallabies’ downfall.
Cheika repeatedly spoke about the ‘‘Australian way’’ and that fans wanted the side to play that way when, in reality, pragmatism was more appealing than highrisk rugby.
‘‘He is unwavering in his commitment to attack,’’ says Smith of Rennie. ‘‘Players will have to lose their conservative ideas and be open to myriad possibilities of how to use the ball in a positive and logical way. Even behind their own goal line, if opportunities present themselves, you’d better take them.’’
It was no secret Cheika ruled with an iron fist and fought for as many resources as possible. Cheika got almost everything he wanted under Bill Pulver, but his relationship with Castle was strained, to the point the pair had a verbal altercation at the World Cup.
Rennie, partial to a beer himself, was impressed with Castle’s vision during a four-hour long lunch. The real test will be when he officially puts his feet under the desk.
‘‘He’s prepared to put himself in the gun sights of those above him to fight for what he thinks is right,’’ Smith says.
Those close to Rennie say reputations count for little. For example, when Scotland fiveeighth Finn Russell left Glasgow, Rennie was unperturbed, despite his status.
When Huw Jones was tearing it up for Scotland, he was hardly getting a run at Glasgow under Rennie.
Rennie is fiercely loyal – yet by the same token very direct when he needs to be.
Rennie, of Cook Islands heritage, will relish the opportunity to bring multiple Australian players of different backgrounds together. He did so superbly at the Chiefs and at other times throughout a coaching career that began at Wellington in 1999. Rennie actively immerses himself in the rugby community and demands players do their bit to grow the game wherever possible.
Australia will be a different kettle of fish, but his closest confidantes are certain he wants to make a real difference, rather than only focusing wins and losses.
‘‘Rens will want the team to connect with their past and the community, to show gratitude, to build their grit and resilience,’’ Smith says. ‘‘He understands the need for huge personal meaning as part of a winning mindset. Being of Rarotongan heritage, he is a supporter of diversity and he stands up for his people and programme if he thinks it’s right.’’
We also know Rennie loves playing the guitar, an instrumental spotted only occasionally on Wallabies tours in recent years. Rennie has even been known to take the guitar with him on community visits. Perhaps it’s time to learn Waltzing Matilda.
Former All Black Murray Mexted played provincial rugby with Rennie, a clever second-five, many years ago at Wellington and has no doubts he will flourish in the new role.
‘‘He’s a great appointment for Australian rugby,’’ Mexted says. ‘‘He’s understated, very relaxed and a mellowed guy. His knowledge is significant and his ability to get the best out of players and teams is very relevant. He’s one of the good buggers and just a good man.’’
Johnson and other key figures at RA did their due diligence. They found a coach with passion, an eye for spotting talent – Rennie took the Baby Blacks to three consecutive under-20 world titles from 2008 to 2010 – and an insatiable appetite for success.
Rennie has a blank canvas in Australia and his highly anticipated arrival cannot come soon enough.
‘‘He will be relentless in his pursuit of excellence and expects all around him to be the same.’’ Wayne Smith on Dave Rennie