Beauden Barrett has expressed his delight that rugby in New Zealand is stable following the appointment of Dave Rennie as the All Blacks’ new head coach.
There was some instability in the game in that country after Rennie’s predecessor, Scott Robertson, was fired from his position in the middle of January following a New Zealand Rugby review into the 2025 season headed by the governing body’s chairman, David Kirk.
As expected, there was plenty of speculation over who would take over the All Blacks‘ coaching reins from Robertson with Rennie, who currently coaches Japanese outfit Kobelco Kobe Steelers, and Highlanders boss Jamie Joseph emerging as favourites for the job.
Rennie was eventually appointed as New Zealand’s new head coach last Wednesday on a short-term contract until the Rugby World Cup in Australia next year, although he will only take charge of the men in black after completing his coaching commitments in Japan in June.
Barrett revealed that he was part of a group of players who participated in that review regarding Robertson’s reign as the All Blacks’ boss during their 2025 Test campaign and they were also asked about the decision to appoint Rennie to take over the coaching reins.
‘I’m happy that’s over’
“It was certainly a thorough process. As a player, I’m happy that’s over, so we can focus on playing rugby,” said Barrett.
The 34-year-old All Blacks playmaker is currently plying his trade with the Blues in Super Rugby Pacific and has been on the New Zealand rugby scene for more than a decade.
Prior to joining the Blues in 2020, Barrett made more than 100 appearances for the Hurricanes at Super Rugby level where he played against the Chiefs, who were coached by Rennie from 2012 to 2017.
Barrett also had a sabbatical stint with in Japan with Toyota Verblitz, where he also came up against Rennie’s Kobelco Kobe Steelers and said he has spoken to players who were coached by the new All Blacks coach.
“There has obviously been really good praise for Dave Rennie with the track record he has. I’ve spoken to a number of Chiefs players, and they hold him in very high regard,” Barrett said.
“I remember the earlier years of my career and how tough those Chiefs teams were with the success they had. He’s certainly a man I have a lot of respect for.”
Barrett forms part of the All Blacks’ leadership group and revealed that he has been in contact with current All Blacks Anton Lienert-Brown and Ardie Savea, as well as ex-Test star Brodie Retallick, who, along with the aforementioned duo, are all playing under Rennie at Kobelco Kobe Steelers.
“It’s only positive,” he added.
Because he is currently based in Japan, Rennie has revealed that he will have “no loyalties” to any players when he comes to New Zealand and names his All Blacks squad for their upcoming Tests against France, Italy and Ireland in July – an approach which Barrett welcomes.
“Every Super Rugby player feels that. We felt that with Razor when he came in a couple of years ago,” he said.
“With Dave not coaching in New Zealand, it’s probably even more so.
‘We should be earning our right to be an All Black’
“And so, it should be. We should be earning our right to be an All Black come selection.”
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Barrett’s younger brother, Scott, was the All Blacks’ captain under Robertson but is currently on a non-playing sabbatical and will only return to action for the Crusaders during the latter stages of Super Rugby Pacific.
His position as New Zealand’s skipper and one of their starting locks is sure to be scrutinised when Rennie becomes head coach and the older Barrett believes he will keen to return to action.
“He’ll be getting itchy and wanting to play to maybe silence some of the noise or what have you. It’s a well-deserved break for him because his body certainly needed it,” he said.
“It’s not been easy dealing with what’s happened in the last few months.”