As Dave Rennie takes the helm as the All Blacks head coach, Jason Ryan, the surviving member of the previous coaching staff, has expressed high regard for Rennie's clear vision and expectations for the team. With a reshuffled backroom team that now includes Neil Barnes, Tana Umaga, and Mike Blair, Rennie is set on carving a distinct path for the formidable New Zealand squad over the next 18 months.
Ryan, who first joined the All Blacks coaching team in 2022, has worked under three different head coaches, starting with Ian Foster. His expertise in forward play has been a consistent highlight, even under Scott Robertson’s tenure when the set-piece was notably strong. Under Rennie's guidance, Ryan sees a dynamic forward pack that can bring both agility and power to the line. "Rens has been really clear around what his expectations are on the sort of player he wants. We’ve acknowledged that we’ve got some good athletes and when you look at the forward pack, we’ve got a good, dynamic pack that can use footwork at the line. He wants to use them and that’s exciting,” Ryan remarked in a conversation with Sport Nation.
The inclusion of Umaga, a revered former All Blacks captain, adds a layer of deep-rooted rugby wisdom and leadership to the team. Ryan, who previously worked with Umaga, anticipates a valuable contribution from him.
"I know Tana will bring a lot of mana. It’s quite ironic, I did a bit of work with him for the U20s 10 years ago, we were together there, so I’m looking forward to reconnecting,”
Ryan shared, recalling the profound impact Umaga had during emotionally charged moments like the passing of Jerry Collins.
With an organized set of plans, Rennie has already started to lay the groundwork for the upcoming July Tests. The coaching staff has been finalized and strategic discussions are imminent. Ryan highlights Rennie’s methodical approach: “The priority for Rens was getting all the coaching group appointed and signed, and that officially happened on Tuesday. We’ve got a day lined up next week where we will get on a call together... Rens is really clear, he’s incredibly well planned and got everything laid out really nicely.”
As the new era under Dave Rennie’s leadership begins, the All Blacks are poised to redefine their gameplay with a blend of traditional strength and innovative strategies, steered by a refreshed and highly capable coaching team.
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As Dave Rennie takes the helm as the All Blacks head coach, Jason Ryan, the surviving member of the previous coaching staff, has expressed high regard for Rennie's clear vision and expectations for the team. With a reshuffled backroom team that now includes Neil Barnes, Tana Umaga, and Mike Blair, Rennie is set on carving a distinct path for the formidable New Zealand squad over the next 18 months.
Ryan, who first joined the All Blacks coaching team in 2022, has worked under three different head coaches, starting with Ian Foster. His expertise in forward play has been a consistent highlight, even under Scott Robertson’s tenure when the set-piece was notably strong. Under Rennie's guidance, Ryan sees a dynamic forward pack that can bring both agility and power to the line. "Rens has been really clear around what his expectations are on the sort of player he wants. We’ve acknowledged that we’ve got some good athletes and when you look at the forward pack, we’ve got a good, dynamic pack that can use footwork at the line. He wants to use them and that’s exciting,” Ryan remarked in a conversation with Sport Nation.
The inclusion of Umaga, a revered former All Blacks captain, adds a layer of deep-rooted rugby wisdom and leadership to the team. Ryan, who previously worked with Umaga, anticipates a valuable contribution from him.
"I know Tana will bring a lot of mana. It’s quite ironic, I did a bit of work with him for the U20s 10 years ago, we were together there, so I’m looking forward to reconnecting,”
Ryan shared, recalling the profound impact Umaga had during emotionally charged moments like the passing of Jerry Collins.With an organized set of plans, Rennie has already started to lay the groundwork for the upcoming July Tests. The coaching staff has been finalized and strategic discussions are imminent. Ryan highlights Rennie’s methodical approach: “The priority for Rens was getting all the coaching group appointed and signed, and that officially happened on Tuesday. We’ve got a day lined up next week where we will get on a call together... Rens is really clear, he’s incredibly well planned and got everything laid out really nicely.”
As the new era under Dave Rennie’s leadership begins, the All Blacks are poised to redefine their gameplay with a blend of traditional strength and innovative strategies, steered by a refreshed and highly capable coaching team.