RUGBY: Rennie appointed Robertson's successor as All Blacks coach

Dave Rennie has been named as the replacement for Scott Robertson as coach of the All Blacks, tasked with leading New Zealand to a fourth Rugby World Cup title in Australia next year.

The 62-year-old former Wallabies coach secured the role over Jamie Joseph after an extensive recruitment process, following Robertson’s surprise decision to step down midway through his contract in January.

Rennie, the first All Blacks coach of Pacific Islander heritage, has been handed a contract through the conclusion of the 2027 World Cup. He will first honor his commitment with Japan’s Kobe Steelers before preparing New Zealand for the July test matches.

“I’m extremely proud and honored,” Rennie said at a news conference in Auckland. “I’m well aware of the expectations and responsibility of the role I’m stepping into, but I’m really excited by it.”

Robertson’s resignation came after a critical review of his management of the team last season. The All Blacks won 10 of 13 tests but suffered disappointing losses at home to the Springboks, as well as defeats to Argentina and England.

Rennie expressed confidence that New Zealand can claim a fourth World Cup.

“It’ll take a hell of a lot of work,” he said. “By the time we start, we’ll have about 15 months until the World Cup. We need to get the athletes in the best possible position to execute and play well. It’s a sprint from here.”

Proven Track Record in Super Rugby

New Zealand Rugby chairman David Kirk said Rennie’s experience coaching in several top-tier rugby nations was a key factor in his appointment.

Rennie, who has Cook Islands heritage through his mother, first made his mark as coach of the New Zealand under-20 team, winning three junior world titles between 2008 and 2010. He later guided the Waikato Chiefs to back-to-back Super Rugby titles in 2012 and 2013 before moving to Scotland with the Glasgow Warriors.

Appointed as Australia’s coach in late 2019, Rennie oversaw 34 tests across three seasons, winning 13, drawing four, and losing 18, before being dismissed in early 2023 to make way for Eddie Jones’ controversial return. Despite a modest overall record, he led the Wallabies to victories over the All Blacks, Springboks, and France.

Rennie said building team culture would be a top priority with the All Blacks. He also hinted at potential changes in playing style, though he refrained from going into detail.

“I’m probably not going to go into massive detail around what that is or the changes we want to make because I don’t want to throw anyone from the previous regime under the bus,” he said. “I’ve watched a lot of footy already. I’ve got some firm ideas around the shifts we can make that’ll make us better.”

-Reporting by Nick Mulvenney; Editing by Toby Davis and Peter Rutherford/Reuters