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Rugby Australia on the players' influence over Rennie's axing: 'We didn't consult them at all'

Dave Rennie with the Wallabies for the team photo. Photo By Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfile via Getty Images

Rugby Australia chairman Hamish McLennan has confirmed that the Wallabies players were not consulted on the decision to fire head coach Dave Rennie and replace him with Eddie Jones.

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Rennie’s sacking was announced Monday, following a week-long Wallabies training camp on the Gold Coast. The unusual timing of the decision has been called into question by many as the Rugby World Cup looms in just nine months’ time.

The timing has now been described as opportunistic, with Eddie Jones available, a homecoming was arranged. McLennan also revealed that Rugby Australia had been in touch with Jones for well over a year.

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“He’s the best coach in the world,” McLennan told SEN 1170 Mornings. “He’s an Aussie, he’s a classic Sydney sider and he understands Rugby and our competitive dynamic.

“He was absolutely on the radar and we’ve been talking to him since November of 2021.

“We were thinking (of hiring him) from 2024 onwards (and) then we literally fell off our chair when he got cut by the RFU (Rugby Football Union).

“We had a poor Spring Tour and didn’t perform to our expectations so we just thought we’d capture Eddie for 2023. Give ourselves the best opportunity to win (the World Cup) in 2023. He’ll deliver results for us.”

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McLennan confirmed that if Jones was not cut by the RFU and therefore was not on the market, then Dave Rennie would still be the head coach of the Wallabies. McLennan pointed to Jones’ winning percentage with England compared to Rennie’s with Australia, citing the difference as a signal of Jones’ potential to “reinvigorate” the Australian team.

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“Dave’s a very honourable guy but we all live by the scoreboard in everything we do in life.”

Rennie broke his silence on the situation on Wednesday, saying he was disappointed but “I leave knowing I had the full support of the playing group and the staff.” The quote raised more than a few eyebrows as it indicates the decision was made entirely externally from the camp.

“We didn’t consult (the players) at all,” McLennan confirmed. “It was a decision made by the board as we administer and oversee the whole game.

“The board felt it was the right thing to do and it was a unanimous decision of the board to hire Eddie.

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“Some players are really unsettled while some players are really up for it.

“There will be change and there’ll be continued change with RA on the administrative side.

“On the whole, it was the right thing to do and I’m comfortable with the decision.”

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Comments

5 Comments
P
Poe 652 days ago

Brilliant. That's what you call modern type management. Players are merely investment assets it seems. Will they love Eddie the mouth? Having read Dylan Hartley's article I think perhaps not .

F
FT 653 days ago

Where’s McLennan’s scoreboard?

W
Willie 654 days ago

"Didn't consult the players" and neither they should have.
Pity NZR did not adopt the same strategy.

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Oh no, not him again? 2 hours ago
England internationals disagree on final play execution vs All Blacks

Okay, so we blew it big time on Saturday. So rather than repeating what most people have all ready said, what do I want to see from Borthwick going forward?


Let's keep Marcus Smith on the pitch if he's fit and playing well. I was really pleased with his goal kicking. It used to be his weakness. I feel sympathy for George Ford who hadn't kicked all match and then had a kick to win the game. You hear pundits and commentators commend kickers who have come off the bench and pulled that off. Its not easy. If Steve B continues to substitute players with no clear reason then he is going to get criticised.


On paper I thought England would beat NZ if they played to their potential and didn't show NZ too much respect. Okay, the off the ball tackles certainly stopped England scoring tries, but I would have liked to see more smashing over gainlines and less kicking for position. Yes, I also know it's the Springbok endorsed world cup double winning formula but the Kiwi defence isn't the Bok defence, is it. If you have the power to put Smith on the front foot then why muzzle him? I guess what I'm saying is back, yourself. Why give the momentum to a team like NZ? Why feed the beast? Don't give the ball to NZ. Well d'uh.


Our scrum is a long term weakness. If you are going to play Itoje then he needs an ogre next door and a decent front row. Where is our third world class lock? Where are are realible front row bench replacements? The England scrum has been flakey for a while now. It blows hot and cold. Our front five bench is not world class.


On the positive side I love our starting backrow right now. I'd like to see them stick together through to the next world cup.


Anyway, there is always another Saturday.

7 Go to comments
C
CO 2 hours ago
Scott Robertson responds to criticism over All Blacks' handling errors

Robertson is more a manager of coaches than a coach so it comes down to intent of outcomes at a high level. I like his intent, I like the fact his Allblacks are really driving the outcomes however as he's pointed out the high error rates are not test level and their control of the game is driving both wins and losses. England didn't have to play a lot of rugby, they made far fewer mistakes and were extremely unlucky not to win.


In fact the English team were very early in their season and should've been comfortably beaten by an Allblacks team that had played multiple tests together.


Razor has himself recognised that to be the best they'll have to sort out the crisis levels of mistakes that have really increased since the first two tests against England.


Early tackles were a classic example of hyper enthusiasm to not give an inch, that passion that Razor has achieved is going to be formidable once the unforced errors are eliminated.


That's his secret, he's already rebuilt the passion and that's the most important aspect, its inevitable that he'll now eradicate the unforced errors. When that happens a fellow tier one nation is going to get thrashed. I don't think it will be until 2025 though.


The Allblacks will lose both tests against Ireland and France if they play high error rates rugby like they did against England.


To get the unforced errors under control he's going to be needing to handover the number eight role to Sititi and reset expectations of what loose forwards do. Establish a clear distinction with a large, swarthy lineout jumper at six that is a feared runner and dominant tackler and a turnover specialist at seven that is abrasive in contact. He'll then need to build depth behind the three starters and ruthlessly select for that group to be peaking in 2027 in hit Australian conditions on firm, dry grounds.


It's going to help him that Savea is shifting to the worst super rugby franchise where he's going to struggle behind a beaten pack every week.


The under performing loose forward trio is the key driver of the high error rates and unacceptable turn overs due to awol link work. Sititi is looking like he's superman compared to his openside and eight.


At this late stage in the season they shouldn't be operating with just the one outstanding loose forward out of four selected for the English test. That's an abject failure but I think Robertson's sacrificing link quality on purpose to build passion amongst the junior Allblacks as they see the reverential treatment the old warhorses are receiving for their long term hard graft.


It's unfortunately losing test matches and making what should be comfortable wins into nail biters but it's early in the world cup cycle so perhaps it's a sacrifice worth making.


However if this was F1 then Sam Cane would be Riccardo and Ardie would be heading into Perez territory so the loose forwards desperately need revitalisation through a rebuild over the next season to complement the formidable tight five.

28 Go to comments
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