Rennie fluffs anthem line

Kiwi Dave Rennie fluffed the fourth line of the Australian anthem this week, but the new Wallabies coach promises to belt it out at this year’s Bledisloe Cup fixtures against the All Blacks. The 56-year-old, who was appointed as Michael Cheika’s successor last November, is in Australia for a week, before returning to the northern hemisphere to finish up as Glasgow Warriors coach in June. The two-times Super Rugby champion coach with the Chiefs addressed media when he was welcomed by Rugby Australia. It included a lesson on the Australian national anthem Advance Australia Fair. Rennie, having been provided the first three lines, was asked to recite the fourth: Our home is girt by sea. However, he stumbled and fluffed his line. ‘‘I did know that, I did know that,’’ quipped Rennie. ‘‘Under pressure I bloody melted. No, I will be singing with gusto. I’ve always liked the tune.’’

Former Wallabies coach Michael Cheika has switched codes to take up a short-term coaching adviser’s role with the Roosters’ NRL title-winning rugby league team. Sydney’s Daily Telegraph reported that Cheika is assisting Roosters coach Trent Robinson by working with the Sydney club’s coaches and the players’ attacking skills. ‘‘He is helping push myself and the assistant coaches to improve and challenging our ideas,’’ Robinson said. Cheika quit the Wallabies after five years in charge following their Rugby World Cup quarterfinal defeat in 2019.