New All Blacks coach Dave Rennie has made his selection plans clear.
Hours after being unveiled in Auckland as Scott Robertson’s successor, Rennie was adamant that there will be no reputations carried over, and no guaranteed jerseys.
Fronting the media alongside NZ Rugby chairman David Kirk, Rennie stressed that selection will be ruthless and form-based.
“I guess one advantage is players are going to have to earn the right to earn the jersey. I’ve got no loyalties, I don’t come from a team where I’ve had a lot of these guys previously. We’ll select based on form.”
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Rennie won the job after a marathon three-and-a-half-hour interview process that included a detailed presentation. He was informed on Wednesday morning that he had edged out Jamie Joseph, with Kirk personally delivering the news to the Highlanders coach.
Joseph, described as “gracious”, later messaged Rennie to congratulate him.
Rennie will honour his commitments with the Kobe Steelers in Japan before turning his full attention to the All Blacks’ July home Nations Championship matches against France, Italy and Ireland.
Top of his to-do list will be to finalise his coaching and management team.
While Scott Hansen, Jason Ryan and Tamati Ellison remain contracted to NZ Rugby, Kirk has long stated that the new head coach will have the freedom to shape his own staff.
“We will work through that, I’ve got a strength of surrounding myself with quality people. People who can make a difference. So I’m keen to bring some people in,” Rennie said.
“But when a head coach leaves, it affects a lot of people. What I want to do is sit down and talk to some of the affected people and then make some decisions over the next week or two.”
Photo: Phil Walter/Getty Images
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