Quade Cooper celebrates Rennie’s appointment in All Blacks: “Karma” for RA

Dave Rennie Takes the Reins of the All Blacks: Reactions from Australia

NSW Waratahs coach Dan McKellar and former Wallabies player Quade Cooper have expressed their congratulations to Dave Rennie following his appointment as All Blacks coach. Rennie, who was fired by Rugby Australia three years ago, has been chosen to lead the three-time world champion team. His contract is for 18 months, and expires at the end of next year’s Rugby World Cup. Rennie’s arrival adds a new element to the Group A clash in Sydney next year, where the Wallabies will face the All Blacks at Stadium Australia. Rennie will face several players he used to coach. Cooper, retired at the end of last season from the Japanese League Two, will not be on the field. However, the fly-half, who was reinstated to the team by Rennie in 2021, did not hesitate to applaud Rennie’s appointment, criticizing Rugby Australia.

“A shoutout to coach Dave Rennie. After how he was treated by our administration in Australia, to now find himself with arguably the most important job in rugby seems a bit of karma,” Cooper posted on X.

Quade Cooper

Cooper added that the situation could have consequences, especially with the World Cup at home. In addition, he congratulated the All Blacks for appointing a great coach and a good person who prioritizes people. Cooper’s return to the national team in 2021 came after he had been largely sidelined by Rennie’s predecessor at the Wallabies, Michael Cheika. The New Zealand-born player contacted Rennie to offer his help in coaching Australia.

His impact on Rennie and the Wallabies themselves was such that he was subsequently handed the number 10 jersey and played a significant role in Australia’s four wins and two losses in the 2021 Rugby Championship, including back-to-back victories over the world champion Springboks.

The injury and an unfortunate saga of player releases limited his appearances from then on, but Cooper’s winning penalty against South Africa on the Gold Coast was one of the highlights of the fly-half’s career. McKellar, who also thrived under Rennie’s direction, was an assistant for the Wallabies in 2021. McKellar turned down an offer from Jones to remain with the Wallabies and, although his stint with the English team Leicester was unsuccessful, he has since returned home and taken charge of the Waratahs. In statements also on Wednesday after Rennie’s appointment, McKellar said he was excited for his former mentor.

“I think I’m probably one of Dave’s biggest supporters, to be honest,” McKellar told reporters. “He gave me a chance at the international level. I think he’s a tremendous coach, but he’s an even better person, a great family man, and I don’t think I’m the only one in saying that I’m incredibly happy for him and [his wife] Steph and the kids.”

Dan McKellar

Reflecting on his experience with the Wallabies on Wednesday, largely for the first time since his dismissal in early 2023, Rennie opted for the more diplomatic route. Instead of attacking RA or its now former chairman, Hamish McLennan, the New Zealander referenced the group of players, including Michael Hooper and Len Ikitau, who were then overlooked by Jones for the World Cup in France.

“I regret nothing. I have many solid relationships there, I learned a lot from coaching at that level,” Rennie said about his time with the Wallabies.

Dave Rennie