Sir Graham Henry – “New Zealand Rugby C**ked That Up”
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Wrong man.
Former World Cup-winning All Blacks coach Sir Graham Henry reckons the All Blacks made a mistake in not trying to appoint Dave Rennie as their head coach.
A number of top coaches were sounded out for the position on the back of Steve Hansen’s departure but it’s believed that Rennie did not apply, nor was he approached by New Zealand Rugby before he was snapped up by Australia.
Rennie coached the Chiefs to back-to-back Super Rugby titles in New Zealand before joining Glasgow Warriors where he spent two full seasons before his final season was interrupted by the ongoing crisis.
Henry reckons New Zealand Rugy “c**ked” up the chance to bring Rennie in who he thinks is a “fabulous” coach.
The 74-year-old added that it showed on Sunday that the All Blacks had not played for a “long time” with Foster’s side lucky to secure a 16-16 draw in Wellington.
“Dave Rennie is a fabulous coach, no doubt. New Zealand Rugby c**ked that up,” Henry told Rugby.com.au
“They should have been connecting with Dave and (Japan coach) Jamie Joseph and other people around the world to keep them involved in New Zealand Rugby.
“[But they] didn’t contact Dave Rennie for three years, and Dave Rennie is fabulous, so he’s going to do a great job with Australia. Whether they’ve got the personnel to be up there for the World Cup, I think they probably will with Dave Rennie.
“The All Blacks hadn’t played for a long time and they looked like it too. They were off the pace, but I think at Eden Park they’ll be chomping at the bit and I think they’ll do the job.
“And I hope for Fozzie’s [Ian Foster] sake that happens, circumstantial with the virus and not being able to play and all those bits and pieces. I’ve avoided the question.”
Asked to choose between Dave Rennie and Ian Foster, Henry said he would pick the current Wallabies coach all day long.
“I talked in the media about this before and (was) asked who should coach the All Blacks and I was very vocal about Rennie,” Henry added.
“But Dave Rennie went to Glasgow and went and coached there after winning two Super titles with the Chiefs.
“I think he’s got it all and no disrespect to Fozzie, no disrespect, and New Zealand Rugby – this is some time ago, not recently ≠ were meant to keep in contact with players and coaches who had a big influence with professional rugby in this country and went overseas and they didn’t do that. If they had done that with Dave Rennie he would have applied for the All Black job.
“I think we stuffed up quite frankly because he is a quality person and a quality coach and you’ve seen it straight away with the Wallabies. They will play for him, and that’s no disrespect to Fozzie, that’s just circumstantial, so I’ve answered the question.”