Dave Rennie addresses Wallabies job speculation

Dave Rennie has shrugged off suggestions that he is in line to coach the Wallabies after the World Cup, saying that he would not quit his role with Glasgow Warriors for the Australian job.

Murmurings within Australian rugby circles hinted that Rennie would be Rugby Australia’s favoured option to take over from incumbent coach Michael Cheika from 2020 onwards if Wales coach Warren Gatland and England coach Eddie Jones were unavailable for the position.

Australia’s new director of rugby Scott Johnson is believed to be a fan of Rennie’s, with the duo both based in Scotland up until the end of the most recent Six Nations, when Johnson departed his role as Scotland’s director of rugby.

However, Rennie put those rumours to rest when quizzed about the topic by The Telegraph.

“It’s just a bit of speculation, as often happens when there’s a potential job up for grabs,” he said.

“I certainly haven’t spoken to anyone, and my contract with Glasgow takes me through until the middle of 2020. I’d imagine from an international point of view most of these jobs are going to be gobbled up straight after a World Cup.

“I knew that was probably going to be the case when I signed on for another season, so it’s just speculation.

“You never say never, but what I’ve said is I’m assuming that, like a lot of teams, they’ll probably make changes in coaches immediately after the World Cup. That’s November 2019. I’m committed here until July 2020, so that’s why it’s unlikely.”

The former back-to-back Super Rugby title-winning Chiefs coach will now turn his focus to the remainder of the Pro14 and European Champions Cup season with Glasgow.

The Warriors currently sit atop of their conference in the Pro14 with four regular season matches left to play, but Irish juggernauts Munster trail them by just three points.

If Rennie’s men can secure victory in their final four fixtures – starting with a home clash against the Cheetahs this weekend – to fight off the threat posed by Munster, then a home semi-final beckons as the Scottish club chase their second Pro14 title following their maiden crown in 2015.

Adding to that is a Champions Cup quarter-final bout with Saracens in London next week, with the club going in search of their first-ever European championship.

It’s a convoluted run of important fixtures across two competitions, but it’s a schedule that Rennie is relishing.

“The tough run is really good for us,” he said.

“This time last year we were 20 points clear and there was not a lot of edge about us.

“The previous three teams we played apart from Zebre were third in our conference and us getting points has increased the gap -between us.

“We have some tough games going into the play-offs which is good for us. We are excited by that and if we are good enough we will qualify top. If not we will still be in the mix somewhere.”

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