Stephen Donald: Dave Rennie’s All Blacks will ‘morph’ after Scott Robertson’s unpopular game plan as Chiefs and Hurricanes provide blueprint
New All Blacks head coach Dave Rennie and former boss Scott Robertson.
Stephen Donald believes that the Chiefs v Hurricanes Super Rugby Pacific thriller has provided the blueprint for how the All Blacks will play under Dave Rennie.
In a clash between the top two teams in the competition, the hosts edged out the capital-based outfit 22-17 after extra time.
The match level was level at 17-17 before Wallace Sititi crossed the whitewash after a Damian McKenzie drop-goal attempt had been charged down.
All Blacks shine
There were plenty of All Blacks stars on show, who could, on form, make up the bulk of Rennie’s 23 that takes on France at the start of the Nations Championship.
And Donald reckons that certain aspects of that game could be implemented by the new head coach when their Test season begins in July.
“We’re all excited about the game and the spectacle, but it wasn’t throw the ball around willy-nilly. The contacts were brutal, both teams once they got inside the 22 were very direct, so that’s not exactly all the champagne and fizz everyone thinks we’re all wanting to watch as a spectacle. It was just brutal footy,” he said on The Aftermatch with Kirst and Beav.
“But the thing that I think where there was similarity was the ball was kept in play. Any opportunity to go quickly, like quick throw-ins, not going to set-piece, or, in the end what defined the match which was a turnover, the energy around that and the ability and wont to have a crack off first phase.
“Yes, I do. I do think that we will be playing a lot more like that, I think we will have more adventure to our kicking game. You look at both teams, both teams tried to move the ball and then kick down the channels. The Hurricanes did it really well early in both halves.”
All Blacks touring party for Springboks series to smash British and Irish Lions number – report
Adventurous Rennie
Rennie’s predecessor, Scott Robertson, was criticised for the All Blacks’ style of play in 2024 and 2025, with accusations that the Crusaders boss was far too conservative.
Donald does not expect that to be the case for the new boss, who is renowned for playing a more expansive game having done at the Chiefs, Glasgow Warriors, Wallabies and Kobelco Kobe Steelers.
“I do think the All Blacks will morph into something more of which you saw on Saturday, which I’m sure will make people a lot happier as far as what they’re watching and tailoring to what we’re good at,” the former New Zealand fly-half said.
Want more from Planet Rugby? Add us as a preferred source on Google to your favourites list for world-class coverage you can trust.
“Particularly on that turnover stuff, the thing that was to note was how quickly the Chiefs sparked and how everyone was on the page.
“No one was waiting for a kick, no one was thinking, ‘we’re going to set a ruck to kick’, there was, ‘right, bang, turnover ball and we’re gone’. That’s what we’ve got to get back to at national level, too.”
