Top-tier experience and a systematic approach to rugby have won Dave Rennie the All Blacks' head coach job.

After nine years offshore, the former Chiefs mentor will return home - appointed Scott Robertson's successor.

New Zealand Rugby chair David Kirk has outlined what ultimately gave Rennie the edge.

"The game is very global at the moment, innovation's coming from lots of different parts of the world, and I think we've got, frankly, plenty to learn from the rest of the world. So he can bring that back to us."

LISTEN ABOVE

Top-tier experience and a systematic approach to rugby have won Dave Rennie the All Blacks' head coach job.
After nine years offshore, the former Chiefs mentor will return home - appointed Scott Robertson's successor.
New Zealand Rugby chair David Kirk has outlined what ultimately gave Rennie the edge.
"The game is very global at the moment, innovation's coming from lots of different parts of the world, and I think we've got, frankly, plenty to learn from the rest of the world. So he can bring that back to us."
LISTEN ABOVE

With a straight down the middle approach, Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive on Newstalk ZB delivers the very latest news and views to New Zealanders as they wrap up their day.

Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive

David Kirk: New Zealand Rugby chair on Dave Rennie becoming the new All Blacks coach

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/7f5d1f29-cd4e-49b4-ae50-b4030051a985/transcript

Listen to the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast for Wednesday  4 March.

Get the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast every weekday evening on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts.

Listen to the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast for Wednesday 4 March. 
Get the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast every weekday evening on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts.

Full Show Podcast: 04 March 2026 

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/1cd50cac-d8bb-4c8e-a4ad-b40300662ec7/transcript

The man appointed today as the coach to take the All Blacks to next year's Rugby World Cup is Dave Rennie. And he's got his work cut out for him. 

He can’t start fulltime with the All Blacks until June - he has to finish his contract in Japan first. That wraps up in May, which means there’s a very tight turnaround before the first test against the French in early July.

Then he’s got the Italians, then the Irish, and then the South Africans. Baptism of fire, much?

And in just over 18 months, he’ll be heading into the Rugby World Cup. Lifting that trophy is going to be a challenge but it’s not impossible.

Rassie Erasmus famously took over in 2018 and won the Rugby World Cup with the Springboks the next year. And you could argue the Springboks back then were more of a hot mess than the All Blacks are now, ahead of Rennie taking over.

It’s also worth remembering that coaching at international level isn’t new ground for Rennie. He was the Wallabies' coach before he was dumped for the disaster that was Eddie Jones. But if you look at his record with that squad, it’s not exactly inspiring. He had a 38 percent win rate, which makes Razor’s 74 percent win rate look positively outstanding.

But if you’re being generous, you’d have to say Rennie had the odds stacked against him with the Wallabies -COVID disruptions, too many tests against the All Blacks, injuries, player unavailability. He still managed to beat South Africa twice, which is no small feat.

 And neither of his successors - Eddie Jones nor Joe Schmidt - have done much better.

Rennie’s appointment also brings a couple of firsts. The headline one is that he’s the first All Blacks coach of Pasifika descent.

But the first I’m enjoying today is this: while it’s not unusual for ex-All Blacks coaches to take over the Wallabies, this is the first time the All Blacks have been taken over by a former Wallabies coach.

LISTEN ABOVE

The man appointed today as the coach to take the All Blacks to next year's Rugby World Cup is Dave Rennie. And he's got his work cut out for him.&nbsp;
He can’t start fulltime with the All Blacks until June - he has to finish his contract in Japan first. That wraps up in May, which means there’s a very tight turnaround before the first test against the French in early July.
Then he’s got the Italians, then the Irish, and then the South Africans. Baptism of fire, much?
And in just over 18 months, he’ll be heading into the Rugby World Cup. Lifting that trophy is going to be a challenge but it’s not impossible.
Rassie Erasmus famously took over in 2018 and won the Rugby World Cup with the Springboks the next year. And you could argue the Springboks back then were more of a hot mess than the All Blacks are now, ahead of Rennie taking over.
It’s also worth remembering that coaching at international level isn’t new ground for Rennie. He was the Wallabies' coach before he was dumped for the disaster that was Eddie Jones. But if you look at his record with that squad, it’s not exactly inspiring. He had a 38 percent win rate, which makes Razor’s 74 percent win rate look positively outstanding.
But if you’re being generous, you’d have to say Rennie had the odds stacked against him with the Wallabies -COVID disruptions, too many tests against the All Blacks, injuries, player unavailability. He still managed to beat South Africa twice, which is no small feat.
&nbsp;And neither of his successors - Eddie Jones nor Joe Schmidt - have done much better.
Rennie’s appointment also brings a couple of firsts. The headline one is that he’s the first All Blacks coach of Pasifika descent.
But the first I’m enjoying today is this: while it’s not unusual for ex-All Blacks coaches to take over the Wallabies, this is the first time the All Blacks have been taken over by a former Wallabies coach.
LISTEN ABOVE

Perspective with Heather du Plessis-Allan: Dave Rennie's got his work cut out for him

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/5550a1a8-fca6-419f-acc5-b4030067b1e2/transcript

Tonight on The Huddle, Tim Wilson from the Maxim Institute and Ali Jones from Red PR joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day - and more!

Dave Rennie has been confirmed as the new head coach of the All Blacks. What do we think of this? Do we think this was the right choice?

US and Israeli forces have killed close to 800 people in Iran, struck about 2000 Iranian targets and destroyed 17 ships. Israel's also killed dozens in Lebanon, going head-to-head with Hezbollah, forcing thousands to flee their homes. Are we concerned by this development? 

The Children's Commissioner says Oranga Tamariki needs to heed a critical report on the agency, after new research confirmed there's been little progress on National Care Standards. Do we think this is fair?

LISTEN ABOVE

Tonight on The Huddle, Tim Wilson from the Maxim Institute and Ali Jones from Red PR joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day - and more!
Dave Rennie has been confirmed as the new head coach of the All Blacks. What do we think of this? Do we think this was the right choice?
US and Israeli forces have killed close to 800 people in Iran, struck about 2000 Iranian targets and destroyed 17 ships. Israel's also killed dozens in Lebanon, going head-to-head with Hezbollah, forcing thousands to flee their homes. Are we concerned by this development?&nbsp;
The Children's Commissioner says Oranga Tamariki needs to heed a critical report on the agency, after new research confirmed there's been little progress on National Care Standards. Do we think this is fair?
LISTEN ABOVE

The Huddle: Do we think Dave Rennie is the right choice for the All Blacks?

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/732a7350-9a7a-405b-b694-b403006203c7/transcript

David Kirk: New Zealand Rugby chair on Dave Rennie becoming the new All Blacks coach

In 1 playlist(s)

Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive

Social links

Follow podcast

Recent clips