Dave Rennie was coach of the Chiefs, searching for a way to bring his players closer together.
It was 2012, and Rennie also believed his squad needed to form a stronger connection to the local community.
The players renovated their training base at Ruakura in Hamilton. They hitchhiked from Hamilton to Ohope, a trip of about 200 kilometres, to meet the punters. They held coaching clinics in small towns stretching across the region: Taupo, Counties, Hamilton, Bay of Plenty. They learnt more about their local Maoritanga – Maori culture and traditions – and even incorporated that language into their defensive calls.
The Chiefs, regarded as a talented but under-performing side, won back-to-back Super Rugby titles in 2012 and 2013.
Rennie has already said one of his priorities as new Wallabies coach is to look for ways to strengthen bonds and respect within the squad. The Wallabies, like the Rennie-era Chiefs of 2012-2017, have a significant Pacific Island influence. Of the current Wallabies squad, about 40-50 per cent is made up of players born in Samoa, Tonga or Fiji, or have Pacific Island heritage.
Israel Folau’s sacking by Rugby Australia over the fullback’s religious social media posts clearly created angst last year, and the bitterness was highlighted again earlier this week when News Corp published affidavits from Wallabies Sekope Kepu and Samu Kerevi that were filed in support of Folau in his court battle with RA.
(Photo by Matt King/Getty Images)
“At the time I wanted to support Israel publicly,” Kerevi wrote. “I couldn’t because the players (including me) were told by management not to comment on the issue.”
The Folau fallout undoubtedly strained the relationship between the Pacific Islanders and RA leading into and during Australia’s World Cup flop. Rennie will be keen to bring some love to the table. You can bet that this healing theme would’ve been discussed in Rennie’s interview as well as the RA board’s deliberations over who was the best coach candidate.
There’s also a school of thought that modern-day head coaches at the professional level – and more so at the international level – are increasingly responsible for building team culture and unity and focused less on tactics and strategy. There’s now a solid head count of support staff who are crunching the numbers in video review sessions and planning meetings so the head coach can spend more time dealing with the sensitivities and idiosyncrasies of various players. Cultural sensitivities are part of this.
In New Zealand, a recent research report found that New Zealand Rugby could do more to engage with the Pasifika community when discussing the sport’s future. A consequence of that is NZR created a new job, Pasifika engagement manager, who will be tasked with giving New Zealand’s Pacific Island community more of a voice in how the sport is run. They will work at a grassroots level as well as a high-performance level. An appointment is due soon.
Rugby Australia will be keen observers given the recent turmoil.
For now they’ve made an astute appointment at a sensitive time. Rennie’s mum was born and raised in the Cook Islands and he’s the first Wallabies coach of Pacific Island heritage.
(Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images)
Not that Rennie wants to emphasise it.
“A lot has been made of me being an islander and I have an understanding of all the island boys,” Rennie told The Australian late last year.
“But I treat everyone the same; it is an old saying but people don’t care what you know unless they know you care.
“I will crack the whip when required but I also bring the group together and make a real effort to create a strong broader family environment. There are no acceptable differences, we don’t have different rules within the group.“
Based on those comments and Rennie’s experience at the Chiefs, he’s well suited to bring the Wallabies together following a fractious and success-starved period since making the 2015 World Cup final. The consensus in New Zealand rugby is that Rennie is firm but fair. He understands that strong team values are crucial to build respect and then success.
“In professional sport there is a lot of focus on skills,” he said.
“But it’s the connections with the people, who you play for and what you represent and how you do that… I think it’s really important.”
Nick
Guest
If an Australian isn't motivated to play for Australia, they shouldn't be picked and they shouldn't accept the jersey, simple as that...
Kashmir Pete
Roar Guru
And MH's recent comments, well IMO, are not compelling toward his retaining captaincy. I think ironic perhaps that w/o the 'c', he may put his selection at 7 beyond doubt. Cheers KP
PeterK
Roar Guru
good post and I agree with it and also what Rennie would be trying to do
taylorman
Roar Guru
Exactly, and my point above. In my day Samoans and Tongans were often at each others throat, literally in Lomu's experiences. Even playing rugby in South Auckland schools and clubs you could feel the tension both within and against teams. I think sport, in particular rugby and League has made a lot of that first liveable early on then normal but now and then the rift is still there. And thats to do with coaches and players bringing cultures together into small spaces where they have to share common goals, they must support each other. NZ coaches spent a lot of time doing that with the immersion of PI's into the sides in the 80's and 90's, as did NZ in communities and activities of all sorts. Oz are experiencing a trend similar to we did in the late 80s and 90's, a growing number of PI players filling more and more of the positions in pro rugby. I'll bet over the last five years the percentage has increased every year. So your coaching needs to catch up. No longer can an oz coach simply know how to manage a side that is more than 50% PI in terms of what really makes them tick as Tongans, Samoans etc, Rennie does, and has 'decades' of experience of doing it.
Snowbaker
Guest
I think once you start saying that specific cultures ned to be treated differently and have additional resources provided you are starting a very slippery slope. I have seen a grassroots club rip itself apart over such thing, leading to a senior member point out - when the club started it was so people from whatever background can come together equally under the "XX" rugby club - now everyone wants to say the club has to treat them special for them to stay.
taylorman
Roar Guru
Yes he did but his idea of treating everyone the same may be very different from yours, or at least your intention by the comment. Rennies life’s experience has taught him to appreaciate the various cultures that are uniquely different to his own. He’s learned whats important to an individual as a Tongan, as a Samoan, as European etc, and by knowing those things he knows a bit more about what makes them tick as players, trainers, family people, friends, their religious and cultural importances in life. So in treating them ‘the same’ he’s taking whats important to each and every one of them into account when trying to mould a team. If five people all love ice cream but each only loves one flavour only there are two ways of treating them ‘the same’. Give them all chocolate ice cream, or give each their own preference because of that background knowledge one has gained from appreciating the background of each ‘individually’. In the end both models result in ‘an ice cream’ but treating them the same has very different outcomes. And that is what Rennie brings to the table. He probably has learnings in terms of what it is to be ‘Australian’ and that is his challenge but again, his MO prepares him for that as well.
Dean
Roar Rookie
Pasifika pride, indigenous pride, First Nations pride, gay pride, White pride, green pride, division isn’t pride! How about Unity and respect and stop the labeling?
Redsfan1
Guest
By the same argument--should we get an English or Irish coach to appeal to the pride of players in the team from English or Irish descent?
Bobby
Roar Rookie
I would think they probably have the same beliefs Jacko. No problem from me. My po8nt was the hypocracy of both. They chose money over belief. Again, no problem from me but that sa6s more about Keps and Samu.
numpty
Roar Rookie
If you wanna see some PI players do their utmost for their team redsfan1, watch anaru rangi (a hooker?!) run from the lineout to make a try saver on the far touchline in 37th minute of the rebs highlanders game. Or, MK chase a kick in the 35th minute from his own 22, make the tackle inside the opposition 22 and nearly get the turnover.
MitchO
Guest
What if Haylett-Petty's mum had a voodoo doll albeit a defective one. She moved along a perfectly capacity lock/6 in Fardy but RHP didn't get the gig. maybe she did the same for Folau for DHP
Jacko
Guest
Thats not true Bobby....All people are different and some will just move on after being treated unfairly and others will fight forever over the same issue. It isnt a case of all reactions must be the same. Folau's actions do not make the others either wrong or right, they just make them different. Not everyone with the same beliefs as the Preacher want to preach......As a Rugby fan it should be easy to understand that everyone interprets the same laws of the game differently....Just look at reffing interpreting and its different between them all. Just because the others chose not to post on Social media does not mean they dont have those same beliefs...
Jacko
Guest
She has certainly brought in some very good policies which will improve pathways and junior player retention and has very clearly decided that a whole rugby package is better to sell than just a top end Fox setup. I agree Dilkington about looking back being a better assessment of her ability than some currently judge her. I think fans in Aus are very negative around Rugby at present and that will change with success.....So success takes time from where it was let get to...
Chufortah
Guest
I think culture and smarts are critical, although coaches do more than just manage relationships. It’s getting the team game ready, and clearing their heads so they can execute a simple game plan. The best coaches have their teams ‘not thinking’ with a game plan which is simple, with all buying in. I think these days Australia players are over-coached... robots. I see refreshing signs. Gee Simon Cron would have made a great compliment to Rennie!
Billy Boy
Roar Rookie
Most of the team are from the u20 world champ sides of 2018 & 2019 so they know about winning, prob helps.
jameswm
Roar Guru
She’s improved the last 4-6 months.
MitchO
Guest
You've had the benefit of a longer span Sheek but I when I was young I remembered Qld win games of union and league and the NSW guys get more spots in the test team. Kind of on merit too. So the test team was okay but NSW teams didn't seem to have the same commitment. A history of getting shafted by bigger richer brother would give the guys a bit of fire. Even now though Queensland seem to buy into the NRC more than NSW. Maybe it is as simple as money corrupts coz as individuals I am sure all (or most) elite players do want to succeed and are prepared to work reasonably hard.
MitchO
Guest
The French do look like they are back in business. Talk about bringing the Aussies together - how much coaching genius is required to get a handle on organising the French!
Kanggas2
Roar Rookie
Thought provoking article. Sounds like a great coach and thoughtful and passionate leader. Australian rugby needs great leadership more then ever .
Billy Boy
Roar Rookie
If Scotland jag a win in the remaining 6Ns we will drop to 8thww so 10 looms large regardless