Rennie factor would help Wales develop – Elliot
DAVE Rennie is the “perfect fit” to succeed Warren Gatland as Wales head coach according to Former All Blacks hooker Hika Elliot.
Rennie, the current Glasgow Warriors boss, right, is on the Welsh Rugby Union’s shortlist to take over from Gatland following the 2019 World Cup.
Hurricanes supremo Chris Boyd and Wayne Pivac of the Scarlets are also in contention for the role.
Elliot, currently with Oyonnax, had a hugely successful five-year spell playing under Rennie at Waikato Chiefs and has urged Wales to look at the 54-year-old.
“I think Dave would be a perfect fit for Wales – he’d be an asset to any side,” Elliot told The Rugby Paper.
“If you look at all the teams he’s coached, he’s produced some golden results at all of them and Glasgow are currently top of the table. They call it the ‘Rennie factor’.
“You’d be hard pressed to find a more technical and better coach than Dave, especially in Europe and I think he would be an asset to Welsh rugby if they decided to go down that route.
“With him coming from a teaching background, his player management is really good and he really gets along with his players.
“If you can create an environment where players feel comfortable and are honest with themselves, you are going to get the best out of them and that’s what he does so well.”
Gatland has been Wales coach since 2007, but will move on after the next World Cup in Japan, as will his attack assistant Rob Howley. The WRU hope to announce their next head coach at some point in 2018 as they look to plan for the future. Elliot believes Rennie would transform Wales' attacking game. “If Dave came to Wales I think you could expect an expansive style of rugby,” said the 31year-old.
“It has its benefits here in Europe because a lot of sides aren’t used to playing teams who like to move the ball.
“It’s more set-piece focused over here so when you come up against a side that likes to play the game at pace and has a skill-set to back that up, then teams are hard pressed to try and defend.”