Rennie Cs way to new dawn

WALLABIES coach Dave Rennie says improvement in three key areas can correct Australia’s free fall to seventh in the world rugby rankings.

Conditioning, culture and changes to the selection policy dubbed the “Giteau Law” are the three Cs that will lay the platform of Rennie’s new era.

Player fitness was also a key pillar of Rennie’s predecessor Michael Cheika’s coaching ethos but the Wallabies boss said there was more to conditioning than just physical fitness.

“To be competitive against the best you’ve got to be able to work for 80 minutes and be prepared to spill blood for each other,” Rennie said.

“(The previous coaching staff) worked really hard and I think they got the boys into really good shape but all of that goes along with skillset.

“We have a really good group of players but you’ve got to have a skillset that will function under fatigue and under pressure.

“The quality of our decision-making and becoming instinctive under pressure around our carry, our cleanout and tackle (is a key focus).

“It’s a real advantage for the Kiwis that they play in a competition where everyone plays the same game at high speed and high skill.

“They’re superbly conditioned so their ability to get up on their feet and back in the game on attack and defence is first class.”

Converting player fitness into 80-minute performances will come with improved team culture, Rennie said.

Work on that front has already begun remotely.

“We’ve been doing work around the culture with a small group of guys to get a headstart into the campaign,” he said.

“We have an outstanding coaching group and outstanding management with a number who I reckon are the best

LOCK IS A CONCERN... IF WE’RE BRINGING ANYONE IN, THAT’S THE POSITION

WALLABIES COACH DAVE RENNIE

in the world. We want to get some good people in there with good work ethic and that’s what we’re looking for from players as well.”

Rennie said adjustments to the Giteau Law were on the way to address shallow depth at lock.

“Our focus is to try to pick from here but (the Giteau Law) is not going to be as it has been,” he said. “Lock is a concern ... if we’re going to bring anyone in, that’s the position we’ll bring them in.”