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Dave Rennie thought the Wallabies made great strides during his three years in charge and believed he had the support of the players and staff before his sudden dismissal.
The New Zealander issued a statement on Wednesday, his first public comments since Eddie Jones replaced him in a stunning managerial change ahead of the Rugby World Cup in September.
Dave Rennie (pictured) thought the Wallabies made great strides during his three years in charge and believed he had the support of the players and staff before his sudden dismissal.
The New Zealander issued a statement on Wednesday, his first public comments since Eddie Jones (pictured) replaced him ahead of the Rugby World Cup in September.
Rennie’s contract expired at the end of the year, the manager insisted last week that he would take the team to France and that Jones, who stepped down as England manager in December, would not be involved.
“I’m disappointed that I won’t be able to finish my contract in the way I agreed to in 2019, but I will leave knowing that I had the full support of the playing group and staff,” Rennie said.
“I certainly felt like we’ve made massive changes in the last three years both on and off the pitch, which is down to a lot of hard work put in by good people.
“I wish Eddie, the staff and the team all the best in what is a great year, with the Rugby World Cup less than nine months away.”
Former Wallabies manager Bob Dwyer (pictured) believes Rennie’s crucial mistake in fielding a reserve-grade team against Italy was what could have ultimately sealed his fate.
Former Wallabies manager Bob Dwyer believes that Rennie’s crucial mistake in fielding a reserve-grade team against Italy was what might have ultimately sealed his fate.
The Wallabies lost to the Italians for the first time in history in a stunning 28-27 loss last November, and Dwyer is sympathetic to Rennie about the team he selected.
“They came close to beating France and Ireland, the only setback was against Italy, but I have sympathy for him there because what are you going to do on a tour like that when you play all the internationals?” Dwyer said.
The Wallabies lost to the Italians for the first time in history in a stunning 28-27 loss last November, and Dwyer is sympathetic to Rennie about the team he selected.
“You take a squad, if you pick your starting 15 or your top 18 all the time, then some squad members don’t play at all. It was different in the old days when you had midweek games and you had games that weren’t that hard, and you could develop players.
“We have to consider all of those things.”
Rennie’s 38 per cent win rate ranks as the worst of anyone who has coached the Wallabies over 30 Tests and was one of the main reasons behind Rugby Australia’s brutal call.
The Italian side pictured celebrating the shock win over the Wallabies last November
But supporters have claimed he was harshly treated, with Rennie taking over the job at the height of COVID-19 restrictions and then gutting key players through injury.
On their last tour they beat Scotland and Wales but lost to France, Ireland and Italy by a combined five points.
Whether Rennie’s coaching style had led to many of those injuries was up for debate, while the World No. 6 team’s consistently poor field discipline was another black mark as RA bosses tossed their future.
They turned to Jones, who led Australia to the 2003 World Cup final, before impressing with Japan at the 2015 World Cup and then leading England to the 2019 final by beating New Zealand in the semi-finals.
Whether Rennie’s coaching style had led to many of those injuries was up for debate, while the World No. 6 team’s consistently poor field discipline was another black mark as RA bosses tossed their future.
Jones, on a five-year contract, will start work at the end of January and will conduct interviews with the remaining assistants before making a decision on his support staff.
One of them is Dan McKellar, who left his head coaching job with the Brumbies to help Rennie in a partnership many saw as a stepping stone to the top job.
“The staff I worked with during my time with the Wallabies are some of the best in the world and played an instrumental role in creating a quality environment and developing the depth of the playing group,” Rennie said.
The two-time Super Rugby-winning manager finished with a comeback victory over Wales, his injury-battered squad ending a dramatic tour of Europe on a high.
The two-time Super Rugby-winning manager finished with a comeback victory over Wales, his injury-battered squad ending a dramatic tour of Europe on a high.
“The support has been immense and greatly appreciated from the 500+ messages I have received from current and former players, coaches, administrators and friends both here and abroad,” said Rennie.
‘I have loved my time with the team. They are outstanding young people who are eager to learn and prepared to work hard.
“I would like to especially thank the Australian rugby community for their support of the team over the last three years and for all the words of encouragement when we passed each other in schools, on the training ground or at airports across the country.” .’