Recently, Rennie's approach has drawn comparisons to that of the late Ian McIntosh, South Africa's coach in the early 90s. Kevin Putt, a former New Zealand scrum-half familiar with both systems, praised Rennie's dynamic strategy.
"I like what we're doing. If Rennie were to get a tick for me, it’s that we’re not highly predictable. So, we’re playing ball wider in our own zone, pulling wingers up, and then kicking in behind,"Putt explained, highlighting a tactical shift from previous coaching regimens.
The sentiment of progression is echoed by Mils Muliaina, an ex-All Blacks fullback, who noted a newfound cohesion within the squad that outshines recent seasons.
"What we’ve produced and how we’ve gone, we’re seeing a much more connected team. We’re making mistakes, but we’re able to come together and come up with certain plans and be on the same page. I didn’t see that in the last couple of years,"said Muliaina.
Despite a daunting face-off against the world's top-ranked team, Wilson urged fans to look beyond the current win percentages. He stressed the importance of the team's evolving mentality over bare statistics. "It's too small a sample size. It's very easy to get hung up on the percentages right now, but I know people who are Scott Robertson fans will go, ‘Well, look at the numbers. Here it is.’ But it all comes down to what’s going to happen for the rest of the season for the All Blacks because they can quite quickly turn these percentages around given who they are playing through the rest of the year," Wilson stated.
Wilson also emphasized a cultural shift within the team since Rennie's takeover. He shared insights from his firsthand experience with the team during the recent tour, noticing a robust team-first mentality fostering under Rennie's guidance. "You’re seeing it from here in New Zealand. I have the privilege of seeing it first-hand with this group," Wilson remarked.
This team-centric approach is further supported by comments from Caleb Clarke, who pointed out that the All Blacks are moving away from reliance on individual stardom towards a more collaborative form of rugby. This change in ethos underpins the team's strategy and could be pivotal as they aim for future success.
The All Blacks' journey under Dave Rennie is still unfolding, with the rugby world watching closely. The blend of strategic innovation and cultural revitalization might just be the formula needed to navigate through the challenges ahead and return the All Blacks to their former glory.
