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'Everything's on the table': RA considers Rennie's future, radical selection oversight, after Italy debacle

13th November, 2022
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13th November, 2022
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LONDON – Wallabies coach Dave Rennie is heading for a showdown with Rugby Australia’s high-performance committee, and the possibility of an independent selector has been raised, after the embarrassing 28-27 defeat to Italy in Florence.

The Wallabies first-ever defeat to the Six Nations side, who they first met in 1983 – has caused anxiety in RA’s offices.

Rennie, who was an appointment under the previous Raelene Castle administration, now has a 37.5 per cent win rate. In 2022 that number falls to 33.33 per cent, having won just four of 12 Tests. If he loses the next two it will be 28.6 for the year.

Wallabies head coach Dave Rennie looks on ahead of The Rugby Championship and Bledisloe Cup match between the New Zealand All Blacks and the Australia Wallabies at Eden Park on September 24, 2022 in Auckland, New Zealand. (Photo by Phil Walter/Getty Images)

(Photo by Phil Walter/Getty Images)

They are alarmingly low numbers and the excuses have run out.

Rennie faces some unwanted history ahead of the final two Tests of the season, with Michael Cheika’s season in 2018, which saw a drastic structural change including the brutal sacking of Stephen Larkham, where he won just four of 13 Tests, the worst season since 1958.

Rennie’s men arrived in Dublin on Monday AEDT and face the daunting prospect of facing world No.1 Ireland on Sunday AEDT.

The Wallabies arrived with the spotlight firmly on their coach, with several crunch questions hanging over his head.

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Yet with two Tests remaining on the five-Test tour, RA is reticent on making any decision that will hamper their performances in the final matches of the year.

What is certain is Rennie’s order – should he last beyond 2022 – is about to be rocked.

From selection to strength and conditioning, eyebrows have been raised about a number of the decisions and outcomes coming under Rennie’s watch.

Now, having lost to Italy for the first time in 19 meetings, those concerns are coming to a head.

Rennie’s coaching is coming under criticism.

The Wallabies boss regularly bemoans the lack of discipline within the side. On Sunday the team conceded 16 penalties, almost double what the hosts gave up.

As one source said: “That’s a coaching issue.”

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Even questions of the side’s culture, an aspect that underpins his coaching style, are being scrutinised.

A chairman’s review is being pencilled into the diary following the tour, which wraps up against their World Cup pool rivals Wales in Cardiff on November 26.

While RA Hamish McLennan as recently as September backed Rennie through to the World Cup, a source says “everything will be on the table”.

It is also understood the New Zealand coach has been lukewarm to the idea of an external selector being involved, but after Rennie made 12 changes to his starting side calls for an independent voice are growing.

Former Wallabies coach John Connolly is one figure being spoken about as a potential option.

Previously RA had Scott Johnson serving as an independent selector, but after RA decided not to renew his contract as director of rugby last year the Wallabies coaching structure, headed by Rennie, choose the team.

It is believed the high-performance committee, which includes former Wallabies greats Dan Herbert and Phil Waugh, have been concerned about Rennie’s selections for months.

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As one person close to the situation said, “An interesting battle looms between famous ex-Wallabies and a Kiwi coach. They are headed for a showdown.”

While some of Rennie’s squad were carrying niggles (a reality of being a professional rugby player), the New Zealand coach opted to rest some of his best and most experienced players, including captain James Slipper, former skipper Michael Hooper, playmakers Nic White and Bernard Foley as well as outside back Andrew Kellaway against Italy.

None of the five players were included on the bench.

Instead, the star quintet sat in the stands wearing RM Williams boots and watched the mess unfold before their very eyes.

While Ben Donaldson could have had a dream debut had he kicked a pressure-cooker conversion, many have questioned why the Waratahs utility back was brought on in the final minutes with the game in the balance.

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Noah Lolesio, who almost certainly won’t play in Dublin to continue the roller-coaster start to his career, has previously been kicking the ball well but was replaced in the final minutes.

It came a week after Rennie came under criticism for replacing Foley in the final minutes of the match and his replacement, Reece Hodge, struggled.

Rennie’s use of substitutions have come under fire ever since he took over in 2020, with Suliasi Vunivalu’s introduction to Test rugby against England in Sydney still in the memory bank of many.

Rennie’s decision to pre-plan his squads have also raised eyebrows, with the coach open about his intent on mixing and match his halfbacks given the five straight Tests.

“I mean it’s not much more changes than we made the week before,” Rennie said following the defeat.
“There were a couple of extra bodies that we would have played today had they not been injured from the French game.

“We picked squads a long way out … we looked ahead at how we’re going to give ourselves the best chance to win all five games on tour. We had a good enough side out on the paddock to win.”

While Rennie has continually spoken about the need to rotate throughout the tour, citing an unprecedented five-match tour, World Cup campaigns require a nation to play seven Tests to win the tournament.

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For that reason, Rennie’s comments have stacked up.

Only a win, or at very least a strong showing, against Ireland can swing the ledger.

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