Wallabies coach Dave Rennie to take a fresh approach after doomed World Cup
New Wallabies coach Dave Rennie won’t be searching overseas to help boost the Wallabies and has revealed his immediate plans, which includes learning the words to Advance Australia Fair.
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New coach Dave Rennie has made the strong call to pick “local” to rebuild the Wallabies, ruling out an SOS to eligible overseas playmakers Bernard Foley and Quade Cooper.
Rennie stepped up at Thursday’s Super Rugby launch in Sydney and quickly answered some of the big questions of the post-Michael Cheika era.
The Kiwi coach will definitely be chasing hard to lure former Wallaby Will Skelton back from England where the giant lock’s club Saracens must shed players because of the salary cap crisis.
Rennie is still weeks away from settling on a new Wallabies forwards coach but indicated that a “fresh ideas and clean slate” approach meant Cheika’s World Cup partners Simon Raiwalui and Mick Byrne would no longer be involved with the Test side.
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When Rennie was asked about whether Michael Hooper would remain Wallabies skipper, he answered with accolades and a little mystery that he looked forward to seeing him earn the right.
No good poker player reveals his hand before he has to and Rennie gave nothing away.
Rennie’s only trip-up was in an Advance Australian Fair quiz but he promised to learn exactly where “Our home is girt by sea” fits by the time he has to sing it for the first time at Suncorp Stadium on July 4 before the first Wallabies-Ireland Test.
“I did know that (line), under pressure I bloody melted,” Rennie said with a laugh.
“People talk about girth when they talk about my physique...but don’t worry I’ll be singing it with gusto because I’ve always liked the tune.”
The Queensland-NSW trial in Dalby on Friday night will be run by two 20-year-old flyhalves with Isaac Lucas in the Reds’ corner and Will Harrison starting in blue.
It’s indicative of a changing of the guard in Australian rugby but one which Rennie will back without pondering what Foley, 30, or Cooper, 31, might be doing in Japan.
Both have played the 60 Tests to be called on under the “Giteau Law” although Cooper’s name was only raised because you need to gauge every coach’s different slant on his value.
“I just think it’s really important if you want to be a Wallaby, you need to be playing your footy down here or committing (to return) like a Nic White did before the World Cup,” Rennie said.
“That’s an important message.”
Melbourne Rebels’ Matt Toomua is the clear frontrunner to be wearing the No.10 jersey against Ireland.
“There’s no doubt that No.10 is probably thinner than most (positions) in regard to experience,” Rennie said.
“I guess what we’ve got to be able to do is identify and develop options quickly.
“Matt will end up playing a lot of No.10 for the Rebels as well, so clearly he’s a strong contender.”
Cooper’s Reds upset the Chiefs in Hamilton in Rennie’s 2013 title year in Super Rugby but that’s ancient history in rugby terms.
“Quade carved us up a number of times. At his best, absolute world class,” Rennie said.
“We have no control over guys playing overseas and that’s a bit of an issue with the quality of the competition they’re playing in, the type of training or pressure they’ve been put under.
“It’s unlikely for us to pick guys in the near future outside of Australia but with a handful of injuries, maybe we’d revisit it.
“My preference is to try and develop within.”
Rennie and Hooper, who made the big call to relinquish the Waratahs captaincy, met in Sydney on Wednesday.
“What we know is Michael Hooper has been a fantastic Wallaby and quality man. I had a chance to talk to him on Wednesday and I think he’s mentally refreshed (after the World Cup),” Rennie said.
“He’s come back in good nick and is keen to contribute to the Wallabies.
“As I’ve mentioned we are not going to pick on reputation.
“I’m sure he’ll go out and put a lot of pressure on us (coach and selectors) the way he plays.
“I was there (at NSW training) and even though he didn’t have the (c) next to his name he was still contributing a lot as you’d expect.”
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