Ex-All Blacks disagree on ‘two-horse race’ for head coach role as Jamie Joseph and Dave Rennie ‘poles apart’
All Blacks coaching candidates Jamie Joseph and Dave Rennie.
The debate over the next All Blacks head coach is still dividing New Zealand with opinion split on who should succeed Scott Robertson.
Following Robertson’s sacking in mid-January, Jamie Joseph and Dave Rennie have emerged as the frontrunners for the role.
Although other names have been mentioned, such as former All Blacks head honchos Sir Steve Hansen and Ian Foster, it is seen as a “two-horse race” between Joseph and Rennie.
Both are fine candidates but they offer two different approaches with ex-international hooker James Parsons preferring the latter.
A poll voted on by the fans just went in Joseph’s favour, who earned 55 per cent, but it only served to emphasise the tightness of the battle.
Joseph and Rennie ‘poles apart’
“The hard-nosed style of Jamie Joseph is quite different to the collaborative style of Dave Rennie. Because they’re poles apart it’s really what you’re looking for,” he said on The Breakdown.
“Off the back of what we’ve seen in terms of the breakdown of the culture and relationships, I do think a Dave Rennie, who brought the Chiefs together and had sustained success, [is my choice].
“Yes, the Wallabies results weren’t great but I do think he was just starting to break through with that side and he was let go. For me, he’s well placed.
“The head coach is one thing but I think it’s the supporting acts and how you make the whole team cover your gaps so that it doesn’t become an echo chamber for one person.”
Parsons was joined on the panel by All Blacks greats Mils Muliaina and Jeff Wilson, with the Test centurion disagreeing with the former Blues front-rower.
Muliaina wanted to see Joseph and Rennie work together, but it is understood that both want to be the top dog.
“It’s a two-horse race. I would love to see them work together because they’re quality coaches. For me it’s Jamie because he’s hard-nosed,” he said.
“I would like to see Jamie given the job.”
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Assistant search
When making a decision, NZ Rugby may also take into consideration the assistants each candidate wants to work with.
It has often been part of the hiring process and whoever is handed the job may determine which coaches are available to the All Blacks.
“There are some good coaches who are around Super Rugby, a lot of assistant coaches, a lot of guys who have been around a little bit, who have played a bit of footy, who understand the All Blacks as well,” Wilson said.
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“They shouldn’t be discounted and there are coaches around the world that might make themselves available if the head coach that they know and like all of a sudden is the man.
“There’s quite a deep pool of talent there.”