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Dave Rennie 'absolutely committed' to Wallabies position despite Rugby Australia uncertainty

(Photo by Mark Evans/Getty Images)

Rugby Australia (RA) chief executive Raelene Castle has rejected suggestions that incoming Wallabies boss Dave Rennie will abandon ship amid ongoing leadership uncertainty.

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Castle’s future has been clouded by widespread precariousness as rugby in Australia struggles to stay afloat financially due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

The former Netball New Zealand and Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs CEO has come under immense pressure in recent times as RA posted a $9.4 million loss last year and is facing the possibility of a $120 million revenue deficit should no rugby be played in 2020.

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Those figures and Castle’s uncertain future in her current position led to reports in Australia that Rennie could desert RA should the chief executive be sacked from her role.

However, Castle has asserted that Rennie is “absolutely committed” to joining the Wallabies once his commitments with Scottish PRO14 club Glasgow Warriors come to an end in June.

“Dave is absolutely committed to Australia and I am absolutely committed to seeing the business through these difficult times and ensuring that we can see the Wallabies back playing test matches with the new coaching team that we worked really hard to put together,” she said, according to the Sydney Morning Herald.

“I know that Dave and [assistants Scott Wisemantel and Matt Taylor] are working really hard doing the groundwork to make sure the Wallabies are going to be as prepared as they can be and we have a world class practitioner in John Pryor leading our athletic development program. I’m really excited to see that coaching team coach the Wallabies.”

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Castle’s confidence comes in stark contrast to sources reportedly close to Rennie, though, who have indicated to the SMH that the two-time Super Rugby-winning coach would be the first to leave if there is a change in power at RA.

Those sources were also unsure whether the likes of Wisemantel and Taylor would last if Rennie were to depart, given the two assistants left high-paying jobs in England and Scotland for Wallabies roles.

The SMH reports that should any tumult unfold, Brumbies head coach Dan McKellar would be the likely beneficiary if Castle, Rennie and anyone else were to leave RA.

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fl 9 hours ago
What is the future of rugby in 2025?

Smith generally isn't well connected to his forward pods; doesn't do a great job of distributing to those around him; and has inferior positional and contestable kicking games than Ford and Fin.


When England have had success over the past few years, its been either through (i) defensive rugby backed up with smart tactical kicking or (ii) high possession attacking phase play based on quick ruck ball. George Ford was key to the implementation of (i) in the RWC, and in the 6N win over Wales, and to the implementation of (ii) in the 6N games against Ireland and France. Smith did great at (ii) when running at tired defenders at the end of the Ireland match, but has never successfully implemented that gameplan from the start of a test because he doesn't distribute or support his forwards enough to create consistent fast ball and build attacks over multiple phases. Instead, his introduction to the starting side has resulted in much more playmaking responsibilities being forced onto whoever plays 9. Alex Mitchell copes ok with that, but I think he looks better with a more involved playmaking 10 outside him, and it really isn't a gameplan that works for JVP or Spencer. As a result of that the outside backs and centres have barely touched the ball when Smith has been at 10.


This might not have been too much of a disaster, as England have seemed to be moving slightly towards the sort of attacking gameplan that France played under Labit and Quins play (I think this was especially their approach when they won the league a few years ago - but its still a part of their play now), which is based on kicking to create broken field rugby. This is (i) a sharp departure from the gameplans that have worked for England in the past few seasons; (ii) bears very little relation to the tactical approaches of the non-Quins players in the England team; and (iii) is an absolute disaster for the blitz defence, which is weak in transition. Unsurprisingly, it has coincided with a sharp decline in England's results.

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