With Dave Rennie poised to take over the reins as the head coach of the All Blacks later this year, Murray Mexted is predicting a shake-up in the squad. As excitement builds in New Zealand, Rennie’s reputation for spotting talent and redefining player roles is expected to breathe fresh life into the team. Rennie, currently at the helm of Japan's Kobelco Kobe Steelers, will step into his new role after completing the season in June, just in time for the All Blacks' upcoming home games against France, Italy, and Ireland in July.
During a recent appearance on the DSPN podcast with Martin Devlin, Mexted discussed the transition. "Dave will too. And there is no doubt about it, you change your All Black coach, you’re going to change some players," Mexted affirmed, highlighting the inevitable shifts that come with a coaching change. Despite the changes, Mexted believes in the resilience of top players: "There’s always those great players that have all that ability, irrespective of the circumstances, just to keep on performing. And those are the ones that are mentally tougher."
"He's going to see things that you and I haven't seen,"
Mexted, who founded the International Rugby Academy of New Zealand (IRANZ) where Rennie cut his coaching teeth, foresees surprising selections and potentially drastic positional shifts under Rennie’s leadership. "There’ll be players that will surprise people. There’ll be positions that will change as well. And that’s one of the things that I thought Dave was really good at, because that’s what he had to do at IRANZ," Mexted explained.
The flexibility Rennie brings could lead to significant tactical changes. Players might find themselves in entirely new roles, not just simple lateral moves but possibly more radical changes, like a midfield back switching to full-back. According to Mexted, this flexibility is a testament to Rennie’s deep thinking and proactive approach to player management.
Mexted is not only confident in Rennie's ability to evolve the team but also eager to see the strategic shifts in play style. "I’m looking forward to observing how Dave grows, actually. Well, I know he’s going to go well. But I’m looking forward to seeing what changes happen and seeing the style of game, because the style of game that Dave wants to play is a really positive style of game," he stated, underscoring his anticipation and confidence in Rennie's positive influence on the All Blacks.
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With Dave Rennie poised to take over the reins as the head coach of the All Blacks later this year, Murray Mexted is predicting a shake-up in the squad. As excitement builds in New Zealand, Rennie’s reputation for spotting talent and redefining player roles is expected to breathe fresh life into the team. Rennie, currently at the helm of Japan's Kobelco Kobe Steelers, will step into his new role after completing the season in June, just in time for the All Blacks' upcoming home games against France, Italy, and Ireland in July.
During a recent appearance on the DSPN podcast with Martin Devlin, Mexted discussed the transition. "Dave will too. And there is no doubt about it, you change your All Black coach, you’re going to change some players," Mexted affirmed, highlighting the inevitable shifts that come with a coaching change. Despite the changes, Mexted believes in the resilience of top players: "There’s always those great players that have all that ability, irrespective of the circumstances, just to keep on performing. And those are the ones that are mentally tougher."
"He's going to see things that you and I haven't seen,"
Mexted, who founded the International Rugby Academy of New Zealand (IRANZ) where Rennie cut his coaching teeth, foresees surprising selections and potentially drastic positional shifts under Rennie’s leadership. "There’ll be players that will surprise people. There’ll be positions that will change as well. And that’s one of the things that I thought Dave was really good at, because that’s what he had to do at IRANZ," Mexted explained.
The flexibility Rennie brings could lead to significant tactical changes. Players might find themselves in entirely new roles, not just simple lateral moves but possibly more radical changes, like a midfield back switching to full-back. According to Mexted, this flexibility is a testament to Rennie’s deep thinking and proactive approach to player management.
Mexted is not only confident in Rennie's ability to evolve the team but also eager to see the strategic shifts in play style. "I’m looking forward to observing how Dave grows, actually. Well, I know he’s going to go well. But I’m looking forward to seeing what changes happen and seeing the style of game, because the style of game that Dave wants to play is a really positive style of game," he stated, underscoring his anticipation and confidence in Rennie's positive influence on the All Blacks.