\u201cEveryone knows that test-match rugby and international rugby is different to Super Rugby or any other club competition.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019s experienced that with the Wallabies so he understands that sort of landscape and he\u2019ll just put his twist and his mana [on the team]. He\u2019s a man of a lot of mana so he\u2019ll put his mana in that legacy jersey already.\u201d<\/p>\n
Liam Messam put on the Chiefs jersey once again in 2021, following two prior stints with the Super Rugby franchise. Photo \/ Photosport<\/p>\n
Charlie Ngatai joined the Chiefs from the Hurricanes in 2013 and started in the final later that year, when they beat the ACT Brumbies 27-22.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe cares a lot about the players and the team, he loves his culture and [is] a really proud man,\u201d Ngatai told the Herald. \u201cHe knows so much about rugby, technically and tactically.<\/p>\n
Ngatai said Rennie developed a good culture in the team, especially at the Chiefs, and brought the team together well.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019s coached over in Scotland, he\u2019s obviously coaching over in Japan, he\u2019s been in Australia, so he\u2019s been around and he\u2019s developed experiences in rugby in different areas of the world, and also he develops players as well. So no doubt he\u2019ll be the right man for the job.\u201d<\/p>\n
Former All Blacks and Chiefs midfielder Charlie Ngatai is endorsing Dave Rennie for the top job. Photo \/ Photosport<\/p>\n
Current Manawat\u016b Rugby Union chief executive Doug Tietjens spent time under Rennie at the Turbos, along with a season at the Highlanders under Joseph.<\/p>\n
Rennie still has ties to the Palmerston North area, and Tietjens revealed the Turbos were keen to bring him in to help with their set-up for the 2026 NPC season.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe has a strong relationship with our current head coach, Wesley Clarke and Rens [Rennie] was finishing up with Kobe and having a bit of time back here in the province,\u201d Tietjens said.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019s got family here, he\u2019s still got a property here, and so we were trying to see if we could secure him to help out in our environment, and obviously that\u2019s not going to happen.\u201d<\/p>\n
Rennie confirmed at his presser that he was planning on taking an unpaid coaching role at the Turbos while chopping some firewood.<\/p>\n
Tietjens said the biggest takeaway from his time under Rennie as a player was the culture aspect.<\/p>\n
Doug Tietjens in action for Manawat\u016b. Photo \/ Photosport<\/p>\n
\u201cHe created a culture, not necessarily what he wants, but for the region and for the playing group,\u201d Tietjens said.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ve had a bit of time with Joe Schmidt and talking to him about his philosophy in coaching and I think they\u2019re very similar as they like to get on the grass, do some coaching. It\u2019s not just a man-manager type of coach, he also does, likes to get out and do the technical, tactical.<\/p>\n
\u201cI haven\u2019t been with him for a while, so no doubt there\u2019ll be some things that would have changed in his coaching style and philosophy, but from a philosophical perspective, I think, he\u2019s great from that point of view.\u201d<\/p>\n
Rennie would have likely developed some of those philosophies from his first role as an assistant coach with the Wellington Lions in the NPC.<\/p>\n
Graham Mourie was coaching the Lions at the time and scouted Rennie, who took up a role at Upper Hutt RFC following his playing days.<\/p>\n
\u201cI went to Wellington the first year I was there, I actually went around all the clubs and basically looked at all the club coaches and I picked out four of them,\u201d Mourie told the Herald.<\/p>\n
\u201cI had Chris Boyd coaching the Bs, Alistair Meacham, the Colts, and Peter Russell the Under-19s, and Dave came with me.<\/p>\n
Graham Mourie. Photo \/ Getty Images<\/p>\n
\u201cDave\u2019s certainly moved on from that and shown that, as with Chris and the other two as well, who\u2019ve all gone on to coach at a very high level, that he was definitely a good choice.\u201d<\/p>\n
Mourie said it was obvious early on Rennie has the tools to be a successful coach.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019s a highly intelligent guy and for a highly intelligent guy to get his early employment opportunities as a school teacher and a publican, he\u2019s obviously got people skills,\u201d Mourie said.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019s got over 25 years actually coaching at the highest level and, in almost all instances, being very successful. So I think he\u2019s served a great apprenticeship and just it\u2019s up to the team now to get behind him and just do what they can to make sure it\u2019s successful for everybody.\u201d<\/p>\n
Rennie\u2019s first task as All Blacks coach will be on July 4 when they host France in Christchurch.<\/p>\n