Wallabies clear up speculation around Dave Rennie's future

Dave Rennie will coach the Wallabies at next year’s Rugby World Cup after his position was guaranteed by Rugby Australia chairman Hamish McLennan.

Since taking over from Michael Cheika in 2020 Rennie has coached the Australian team to 11 wins, three draws and 13 losses – which is a 40.7 per cent win record.

This year the Wallabies have won three of their seven Tests.

But McLennan felt the team were making progress and that Rennie was the man to lead them into the France tournament.

“Yes, absolutely,” McLennan said on Thursday ahead of the Bledisloe Cup clash with the All Blacks in Melbourne.

“Dave’s done a great job. There’s been real progress that has been made.

“It’s pretty obvious to say this, but they need more consistency in their game. They’re heading in the right direction, there’s no doubt.”

McLennan said current world rankings, with Australia eighth, were merely a “data point”.

“The world rankings … you can use them as a data point but everyone in world rugby could see that the Wallabies have come back and they’re on the move and heading in the right direction. I take a lot of heart from that.”

The Wallabies face New Zealand next week in a second Bledisloe Cup clash in Auckland before five Tests in the UK and Europe in October-November to finish the year.