‘I think I’m ready for it’: New All Blacks coach Dave Rennie makes strong first impression

Thursday, 5 March 2026

As first impressions went – or at least the latest ones of a rugby fellow most of us know pretty well – Dave Rennie’s debut public appearance as the new All Blacks coach in Auckland on Wednesday was as encouraging as it was enlightening.

It did not take us long to realise why he had won a “unanimous” endorsement, ahead of chief rival Jamie Joseph, as the man to steer the listing All Blacks ship back into smoother waters. Here, at New Zealand Rugby HQ, packed into a makeshift press conference area that struggled to contain a bulging media horde, was a coach both articulate and humble, considered and passionate, strong in his convictions but realistic in terms of the task ahead.

His communication was clear and concise. He stayed on point. He took the tough questions, and easy ones, with equal aplomb, and also exhibited a groundedness, a love of the game and an understanding of team culture that was impressive. With all due respect to the last fellow, whose passion and commitment you could not fault, this was a notable step in the right direction.

Rennie is, by and large, a no-fuss character, Direct. Succinct. He doesn’t dress up what he does and wrap it in intrigue and mystique, as some in his trade are wont. He’s delightfully old-school in approach, yet new-age enough to have persuaded his assessors (some of whom even travelled to Japan to observe him in action) that he was the man to lead the All Black turnaround.

It’s been a while. This quintessential Kiwi, with his Cook Islands roots (on his mother’s side) has been away for the last nine years honing his craft. He’s been with Glasgow, with the Wallabies and, now, Kobelco Kobe Steelers in Japan, having previously tasted success at home with Manawatu, Wellington, the Chiefs and the New Zealand Under-20s.

By the time he slips into the role proper, he will have 15 months to get a faltering team back on track to win the World Cup. And though he has firm ideas around both how to go about that, and who to do it with, he stopped short on day one of unveiling his support crew.

Don’t be surprised if an immensely clever, and highly respected, coach such as Taranaki’s Neil Barnes appears in his group. They’ve worked together in the past. And Rennie knows what he knows.

“I’ve got a strength of surrounding myself with quality people – people who can make a difference,” he told a probing media pack. “I’m keen to bring people in. But when a head coach leaves it affects a lot of people, so I want to talk to the affected people, and make decisions in the next week or two.

“I think having that connection is important. You’ve got to have people you trust and you know can do the job. I’ve got a history of surrounding myself with people who can make a difference.”

Those same connection pieces won’t apply to the players, he later affirms. In somewhat of a break-glass-in-emergency situation, he comes in with no direct ties to the current crop of contenders, bar Ardie Savea who plays for him at Kobe, and Brodie Retallick whom he’s convinced still has something to offer at the highest level.

“Players are going to have to earn their right to wear the jersey,” he adds, confirming that applied to the captaincy as well. “I’ve got no loyalties, I haven’t had a lot of these guys previously, so we’ll select based on form.”

Then came the “culture” question. Was a reset required? Again, with that strong chin, assertive gaze, Rennie was unflinching.

“I’m not sure reset is the right word. We’ve got to focus on it, and keep understanding who we represent and how we want to be perceived. I want to dig down into the legacy. I’m also really clear on the type of game we want to play, the type of athlete we need and how we’re going to make the shifts we need to.”

And just because he’s spent the last three years turning Kobe into a Japanese powerhouse, it doesn’t mean he has been oblivious to what’s occurring elsewhere. “I watch a lot of footy,” he says with a grin. “There is some fantastic rugby being played in other countries. It’s a competitive landscape now, and we’ve got to make sure we’re working hard to be brilliant at the basics.”

Everything was sure and certain. His Australian experience? “No regrets … learnt a lot.” Can the All Blacks win a World Cup? “Yes, but it will take a hell of a lot of work.” The few short weeks he’ll have from the end of his time in Japan? “We’ll make it work.”

It’s a role he’s had a tilt at before, of course. And now he’s finally landed it? “It’s pretty special. It’s not an easy job to get a hold of. There are so many good coaches in New Zealand. I headed overseas to gain more experience, and that’s been really good for me.

“I think I’m ready for it. I’ve coached across the world, worked with some fantastic people and learnt a lot. I’m excited to come back home and do the jersey justice.”