“We need to change perceptions”

“There are a lot of factions, a lot of talk about past players and captains, the media are often reporting on stories that are negative about our sport. We’ve got our part to play to give them something positive to talk about, but what would be great is to have everyone in Australia pulling in the same direction to improve the quality and image of our sport.”

Dave Rennie is acutely aware of the challenges that lie ahead in his new role as Wallabies head coach. Since being named as Michael Cheika’s successor last November, following the country’s disappointing World Cup campaign in Japan, there has been a stream of damaging stories around Australian rugby. The controversial settlement with Israel Folau; Rugby Australia’s struggle to secure a new broadcast agreement; significant pay cuts and redundancies in the wake of coronavirus; severe criticism of Raelene Castle, including a critical letter from a group of former Wallabies captains, that led to her resignation as chief executive; the governing body’s financial strife that saw it receive £7.6m from World Rugby’s Covid-19 relief fund.

There have been more promising signs recently – the Super Rugby AU competition, for example, which led to a revised TV deal with Fox Sports – but Rennie is still arriving at arguably the toughest period in Aussie rugby history, and he recognises the role he and the Wallabies have to play in strengthening the sport’s position Down Under.

“I’ve been impressed by a lot of things around Australian rugby,” says the 56-year-old Kiwi. “A lot of good things are happening and there are passionate people trying to create change. It’s what we’ve all got to try to do. We need to change perceptions by what we do rather than what we say.

“That starts from us at the top. We want to create strong connections with the Super Rugby coaches and management – that’s important. My role with the Wallabies is bigger than that, it’s about strong connections with the age-grade sides and talent ID. Part of my brief is to help develop Australian coaches coming through too.

“Covid is affecting everyone all over the world. We have to understand that. Financially people are affected, and from a rugby perspective we’ve got to ensure that the game comes back strongly.”

Rennie was quick to impress Australia supporters when volunteering to take a 30% pay cut before he had even started his role, although the man himself downplays the gesture, saying he always assumed the union-wide salary reductions would be applied to him too. He adds: “If I arrived and wasn’t affected while everyone else in the business is, it’s not a great way to start from a leadership perspective.”

Rennie, who coached New Zealand U20 and the Chiefs before taking