Rennie’s assistants tailor-made for Aussie flavour and attacking mindset
Scotland assistant Matt Taylor is the next target in the coaching revamp of new Wallabies boss Dave Rennie.
Scotland assistant Matt Taylor is the next target in the coaching revamp of new Wallabies boss Dave Rennie now that an attacking mind looks locked in.
Taylor was the “minister for defence” on the Queensland Reds’ coaching staff for their 2011 title win. He mentored World Cup Wallabies James Slipper and Rob Simmons as head coach at The Southport School more than a decade ago during the early stages of his rise.
He’s a proud Aussie although “ScAussie” has fitted in recent years when he’s been the defensive brain behind Scotland’s best wins, including two over the Wallabies in 2017. When Kiwi Rennie was appointed last week, he stressed “it’s important to have a really strong Australian flavour” for his assistant coaches and he would “bring back guys (from overseas) who can offer a lot”.
Scott Wisemantel’s decision to knock back an extension with Eddie Jones after their impressive World Cup with England is a flashing neon pointer that a Wallabies’ role will soon be unveiled for him. The highly regarded Wisemantel was name-checked last week by Rugby Australia’s director of rugby Scott Johnson as the style of experienced coach he would canvas.
Wisemantel is dedicated but also a well-liked knockabout who loves finding a wave when he returns to his home patch at Lennox Head in northern NSW.
He happily worked as a supply teacher when home in Australia during a few weeks off from the intense England set-up this year.
England five-eighth George Ford credited Wisemantel with expanding the variety to the English attack for their big World Cup run to the final in Japan.
“In terms of different ways in which we can attack, it’s gone through the roof,” Ford said of Wisemantel’s influence after the big quarter-final win over the Wallabies.
World Cup campaigns with England (2019), Japan (2015) and Samoa (2011) have built Wisemantel’s experience apart from his local knowledge in previous skills roles with the Wallabies, Waratahs and Australian under-20s.
It’s no knock on the potential of Shaun Berne, who had just four months as Michael Cheika’s attack coach, but he will be collateral damage now the head coach has been changed.
The Wallabies pack took big strides in lineout efficiency over the past year for which forwards coach Simon Raiwalui deserves strong praise.
Equally, there will be a change there.
Former Reds coach Nick Stiles should be a strong contender because his expertise as a scrum coach was his calling card before his seasons at the helm in Queensland (2016-17).
He will have a decision to make if Rennie or Johnson come calling because he was influential in luring Wallabies Quade Cooper and Will Genia to Japanese club Kintetsu Liners.
As Kintetsu head coach, the Stiles’ charter is to build on a 2-0 start to the new season in the second-tier Top Challenge League and win promotion.
All Blacks great Andrew Mehrtens believes New Zealand’s loss will be Australian rugby’s gain, declaring Rennie will reinvigorate the Wallabies after more than a decade in the doldrums.
Mehrtens expects Rennie to leave no stone unturned in his quest to revive the Wallabies, even tipping the meticulous mentor to reach out to Michael Cheika for possible pointers.
Rennie, who guided the Chiefs to back-to-back Super Rugby titles in 2012-13, rejected overtures from New Zealand powerbrokers, preferring to take over from Cheika after completing his commitments with Glasgow Warriors next June.
“That shows the integrity of the guy. He’s a Kiwi and it must be flattering to be asked to put your name in the ring for that All Blacks job,” Mehrtens said.
“But he’s made his decision and already it seems like he’s pouring everything into it, to have that attitude when New Zealand came knocking. “I’m sure they’re not delighted at the fact that a) they’re not getting to use his IP now, and b) a close rival is.”
The Courier-Mail, AAP
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