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Three years since Rugby Australia sacked Dave Rennie, Wallabies show little improvement

Turbulent period of three coaches raises questions about the team's trajectory

By LineZotpaper
Published
Read Time2 min
Sources3 outlets
Three years after Rugby Australia's decision to sack coach Dave Rennie, the Wallabies have cycled through three coaches and delivered mixed results that make it difficult to argue the team has improved, particularly against the All Blacks.

The Wallabies have endured a turbulent period since Dave Rennie's sacking, marked by the appointment of Eddie Jones, the subsequent World Cup disaster, a repair job by Joe Schmidt, and a somewhat awkward handover to Les Kiss. Over the past two weeks, evidence suggests the Wallabies are not better than they were in 2022, especially relative to the All Blacks, whom they beat that year. Meanwhile, Rennie has clearly improved the All Blacks, as most of the Wallabies he coached knew he would.

Mark Nawaqanitawase is toying with the idea of switching to Fiji or Italy at the World Cup. However, the trajectories of Nawaqanitawase and Joseph Aukuso-Suaalii over the past few years show it is now easier going from rugby to league than the other way around, with more space in the 13-man code and smaller athletes. As colleague Christy Doran noted, Suaalii missed five tackles in defence. Expectations on Nawaqanitawase should be put into context.

There is good news for the Wallabies: fly-half Declan Meredith took a big step forward against the All Blacks in Sydney. He was almost unrecognisable from the nervous player who made his debut against France in July, showing the form that Kiss had obviously seen.

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Analysis

Why This Matters

  • The Wallabies' performance affects Australian rugby's reputation and fan engagement.
  • Coaching instability has direct consequences for player development and World Cup prospects.
  • The debate over cross-code player movement (rugby vs. NRL) influences recruitment strategies.

Background

The Wallabies have undergone a turbulent period since the decision to sack Dave Rennie after the 2022 season. Eddie Jones was appointed but a disastrous World Cup campaign followed. Joe Schmidt was brought in for a repair job, and then Les Kiss took over in a handover described as awkward. The team's results have been inconsistent, raising questions about the direction of Australian rugby.

Key Perspectives

Wallabies supporters and analysts: There is concern that the team has not improved relative to the All Blacks, and that the coaching changes have created instability without clear progress. Dave Rennie's camp: The coach's success with the All Blacks suggests he was unfairly treated, and that his sacking may have set the Wallabies back. Rugby Australia: The governing body has pursued a series of coaching appointments in an effort to rebuild, but the results so far remain mixed.

What to Watch

  • The Wallabies' upcoming Test results, particularly against top-tier opposition.
  • Whether Declan Meredith can sustain his improved form as the starting fly-half.
  • Mark Nawaqanitawase's decision on his international allegiance and its impact on the squad.

Sources

Checked

12 claims in this story checked against 1 source: 12 supported.

Show each claim
  1. SupportedHeadline: Three years since Rugby Australia sacked Dave Rennie, Wallabies show little improvementSydney Morning Herald - Latest News: “It’s three years since Rugby Australia sacked Dave Rennie. Have the Wallabies improved? Based on evidence of the past two weeks, it would be difficult to argue the Wallabies are better now than they were in 2022”
  2. SupportedSummary: Turbulent period of three coaches raises questions about the team's trajectorySydney Morning Herald - Latest News: “three coaches in four years in a turbulent period whose origins can be easily traced back to the decision to sack Dave Rennie”
  3. SupportedThree years after Rugby Australia's decision to sack Dave Rennie, the Wallabies have cycled through three coachesSydney Morning Herald - Latest News: “It’s three years since Rugby Australia sacked Dave Rennie... three coaches in four years”
  4. SupportedDelivered mixed results that make it difficult to argue the team has improved, particularly against the All BlacksSydney Morning Herald - Latest News: “it would be difficult to argue the Wallabies are better now than they were in 2022, especially relative to the All Blacks”
  5. SupportedThe Wallabies have endured a turbulent period since Dave Rennie's sacking, marked by the appointment of Eddie Jones, the subsequent World Cup disaster, a repair job by Joe Schmidt, and a somewhat awkward handover to Les KissSydney Morning Herald - Latest News: “The Eddie Jones appointment and the World Cup disaster, the Joe Schmidt repair job and the somewhat awkward handover to Les Kiss – three coaches in four years in a turbulent period”
  6. SupportedOver the past two weeks, evidence suggests the Wallabies are not better than they were in 2022, especially relative to the All Blacks, whom they beat that yearSydney Morning Herald - Latest News: “Based on evidence of the past two weeks, it would be difficult to argue the Wallabies are better now than they were in 2022, especially relative to the All Blacks (whom they beat in 2022)”
  7. SupportedRennie has clearly improved the All Blacks, as most of the Wallabies he coached knew he wouldSydney Morning Herald - Latest News: “Rennie has clearly improved the All Blacks, as most of the Wallabies he coached knew he would”
  8. SupportedMark Nawaqanitawase is toying with the idea of switching to Fiji or Italy at the World CupSydney Morning Herald - Latest News: “Mark Nawaqanitawase is proving as elusive off the field as he is on it, toying with the idea of switching to Fiji or Italy at the World Cup”
  9. SupportedThe trajectories of Nawaqanitawase and Joseph Aukuso-Suaalii over the past few years show it is now easier going from rugby to league than the other way around, with more space in the 13-man code and smaller athletesSydney Morning Herald - Latest News: “the trajectories of Nawaqanitawase and Joseph Aukuso-Suaalii over the past few years definitively show it is now easier going from rugby to league than the other way around – there is far more space in the 13-man code and smaller athletes to contend with”
  10. SupportedAs colleague Christy Doran noted, Suaalii missed five tackles in defenceSydney Morning Herald - Latest News: “As SMH colleague Christy Doran noted in his Wallabies player ratings: “Suaalii was found out a fair bit in defence, missing five tackles.””
  11. SupportedExpectations on Nawaqanitawase should be put into contextSydney Morning Herald - Latest News: “The expectations on Nawaqanitawase, therefore, need to be put into context”
  12. SupportedDeclan Meredith took a big step forward against the All Blacks in Sydney; he was almost unrecognisable from the nervous player who made his debut against France in July, showing the form that Kiss had obviously seenSydney Morning Herald - Latest News: “Wallabies No.10 Declan Meredith took a big step forward against the All Blacks in Sydney: he was almost unrecognisable from the nervous player who made his debut against France in July. This was the Meredith that Kiss had obviously been seeing in training”

Zotpaper

Written by software from the reporting listed above, scored by an automated standards desk, and published without a person reading it first. If something here is wrong, tell the editor and it will be put right.

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