RENNIE RISKS ISOLATION FROM HIS HOMELAND

DAVE RENNIE was something of an acquired taste when he was Glasgow Warriors head coach. Some players, such as Adam Hastings, thought he was the best coach they had worked under. Others on the fringes — such as Adam Ashe — weren’t so impressed and didn’t feel they got the game time under him they deserved. The one thing that they all agree was that Rennie always fought his corner and stood up for what he thought was right.

He is doing that again in his new job as Australia head coach. He may be a New Zealander but is fast becoming public enemy No 1 in his homeland — especially among All Black players. The Australian Rugby Union made a better bid than New Zealand to host this year’s Rugby Championship which will bring in some vital cash, even if it is just television money as matches are likely to be behind closed doors. Australia rugby chiefs have described the tournament as a ‘mini-World Cup’, with double-header matches each weekend over six rounds in November and December featuring the Wallabies, South Africa, New Zealand and Argentina. The last one, between Australia and New Zealand, is on December 12 — the same day South Africa play Argentina. New Zealand authorities enforce a strict two-week coronavirus quarantine period for all international arrivals, meaning that even if the All Black players departed for home straight after the match, they would face Christmas Day isolated from their families. Not surprisingly, they are none too happy about that and wanted the fixture brought forward a few days. Rennie and Australia are happy with the fixture list and think missing Christmas Day with their families is a problem for the All Blacks and nothing to do with them. Don’t expect the date for that final game to change.