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Dave Rennie turns down Kiwi Super Rugby side leaving them scrambling

Dave Rennie following a Wallabies loss. Photo by Fiona Goodall/Getty Images

Former Wallabies coach Dave Rennie has reportedly turned down a potential return to New Zealand as he mulls his next career decision after being abruptly let go by Rugby Australia late last year.

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Newshub reports that the Blues approached Rennie with a lucrative deal to takeover in 2024 from Leon Macdonald, who is expected to join Scott Robertson’s coaching staff with the All Blacks.

The two-time Super Rugby champion coach is weighing up a move to Japan instead to link with former Chiefs mentor Wayne Smith.

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Smith, who was an assistant under Rennie at the Chiefs, is the Director of Rugby at Kobelco Kobe Steelers in Japan Rugby League One.

The Steelers have attracted big names out of New Zealand since Smith arrived, landing All Blacks Dan Carter, Ben Smith, Brodie Retallick, and Aaron Cruden in recent years.

Retallick is heading back to the club following the 2023 Rugby World Cup in France, and Rennie could join as the club’s head coach.

The Blues are resigned to losing Macdonald according to the report and are scrambling to find a quality replacement which led them to approach Rennie.

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Robertson’s new All Black coaching staff will potentially drain New Zealand’s Super Rugby teams of coaches with Hurricanes head coach Jason Holland also believed to be in the mix along with Macdonald.

 

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Comments

5 Comments
G
GL 777 days ago

Foster for Blues? He is available any time

J
JD Kiwi 777 days ago

Australia followed by the Blues? He's not that much of a glutton for punishment!

f
frandinand 777 days ago

He won't want to contend with JK's advice.

S
Smithy806 777 days ago

Hey Ben. I’m not DOR for Kobelco Steelers. I was from 2018-2020 but since Covid days I’ve simply followed them and given a bit of advice now and again. I love the club though and would be excited if someone like Rens joined them next year.

C
Chiefs Mana 777 days ago

Hi Wayne, big fan - how do you see the future of rugby in Japan? Obviously a lot of ex-pats plying their trade but it seems the local standard is really good and getting better yearly - could (should?) they be a part of the Rugby Championship in the years to come? NZ and Aussie rugby future feels as though it relies somewhat on good growth out Japans, Fiji etc...?

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C
CO 27 minutes ago
Whose ship has sailed before the first All Blacks squad?

Based on last weekend there should be no Hurricanes loose forwards in the mix, they all seemed poor with the Brumbies once again fantastic at playing and executing as a team. The Hurricanes were also poor in the halves with the ten invisible and Cam Roigard trying to play up tempo, Helter skelter rugby which is what the Brumbies wanted.


Roigards passing was telegraphic with his running game and sniping non existent, Ratima also appears to be getting metronomic, devoid of flair and his ten went invisible as well.


If you can't step up at finals then you need to be punished, yes the blues were poor at times this season but they were right on either the last two games when it really matters.


CWL is a bit larger but both him and Lakai are down on size for an eight and aren't freaks like Savea. Sotutu has to be in the mix and Dalton, but only if they front this Friday night.


However six is an ongoing issue, Josh Beehre could be an answer to the lack of height in the loose forwards at Allblacks level, his driving try to ice the contest through a decent Chiefs pack was raw determination even with support.


As for the previous try being ruled out on the flimsiest of technicalities that highlighted everything wrong with the TMO, it wasn't ‘rabbiting’, his knees dropped one after the other and he then brought his shoulders forward to extend and score, big guys can do that, that's why Sotutu has to be in the mix.


Sititi looked short of a gallop and the Chiefs might be acting a bit too cute with their bench, the coach is saying all the right things but he's in the departure lounge and the signs are there that the Chiefs expected to be the best team in finals simply because they had the best bench.


They're now under the pump and the winner of this year's super final will almost certainly be whoever wins this Friday in Christchurch.

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