Bledisloe Cup rugby: Graham Henry reveals who should be the All Blacks coach

Former All Blacks head coach Sir Graham Henry says New Zealand Rugby made a mistake by allowing Dave Rennie to work with the Wallabies.

Rennie, named to the Wallabies head coach position in late 2019, has made an immediate impact on the Australian side; the team impressed in the first match of this year’s Bledisloe Cup, which saw the two teams play an exciting draw.

Henry, speaking at the Wairarapa Bush Rugby Sports Award feature as a special guest, said he believes New Zealand Rugby could have done more to keep a coach of his caliber on New Zealand soil.

“Dave Rennie is a fabulous coach, no doubt. New Zealand Rugby screwed him up. They should have been connecting with Dave and (Japan coach) Jamie Joseph and other people from around the world to keep them involved in New Zealand Rugby.

“(But) they didn’t get in touch with Dave Rennie for three years, and Dave Rennie is fabulous, so he’ll do a great job with Australia. Whether they have the staff to be there for the World Cup, I think they probably will. they will do with Dave Rennie. “

Current All Blacks head coach Ian Foster is under immense pressure early in his tenure with the team, a role for which Henry hints that he may not have been the best man, even though Henry is in the selection panel for the position.

“I spoke to the media about this before and they asked me who should coach the All Blacks and I talked a lot about Rennie.

“But Dave Rennie went to Glasgow and went to train there after winning two Super titles with the Chiefs.

“I think he has it all and without disrespecting Fozzie, without disrespecting him, and New Zealand Rugby – this is some time ago, not recently – was meant to keep in touch with players and coaches who had a great influence with him. professional rugby in this country and they went overseas and didn’t do that. If they had done that with Dave Rennie, he would have applied for the All Black job. “

While acknowledging that it was “too early” to make a final decision on Foster’s selection, he says Rennie has shown his class how Australia has responded immediately to his leadership.

“I think frankly we get stuffed because he’s a quality person and a quality coach and you’ve seen him right away with the Wallabies. They’ll play for him, and that’s not disrespectful to Fozzie, that’s just circumstantial. , so “I have answered the question”.

The All Blacks face Australia in the second game of their Bledisloe Cup series on Sunday at 4pm at Eden Park.

The Herald will provide live updates and have live interactive player ratings. You can watch live commentary of the match on Newstalk ZB, Gold AM and iHeartRadio.