Should the Springboks be worried about new-look All Blacks coaching staff?
· The South African
New All Blacks head coach Dave Rennie on Tuesday named his backroom team to take New Zealand through to next year’s Rugby World Cup, retaining one old face but turning mostly to former assistants from his successful club coaching career.
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Moana Pasifika head coach and former all Blacks captain Tana Umaga has joined Dave Rennie’s coaching set-up with New Zealand. Image: Sanka Vidanagama / AFPJason Ryan, who was an assistant to previous head coaches Scott Robertson and Ian Foster, keeps his role as forwards coach.
Neil Barnes, who worked with Rennie at the Chiefs up to 2017, comes in as senior assistant coach.
Former All Blacks captain Tana Umaga is the new defence coach, while former Scotland captain and British and Irish Lion Mike Blair was named attack coach.
Track record
“This is a very experienced and highly skilled coaching team,” said Rennie.
“Each of these men has a track record of getting the best out of the players and teams they coach, and they are each hugely motivated to get stuck in and deliver the same success with the All Blacks.”
Blair was an assistant to Rennie at a successful Glasgow Warriors side in the PRO14 league in 2018/19 and has been alongside Rennie at Kobe Steelers in Japan since 2023.
“Tana (Umaga) brings immense ‘mana’ (power) and defensive insight and Mike (Blair) will bring his innovative approach and attention to detail to our attack,” Rennie said.
“I know this group will challenge and support both me and our players to bring the best out of us all.”
‘Best in the business’
Highly respected strength and conditioning coach Phil Healey becomes All Blacks head of performance having also worked with Rennie at the Chiefs, Glasgow and Kobe.
“Phil is one of the best in the business. We’ve worked closely together for a number of years,” Rennie said.
“We are aligned in what we expect from our athletes, and I have massive confidence in Phil’s ability to drive that in the gym and on the grass.”
Umaga, who won 74 caps for the All Blacks, is currently head coach at Super Rugby’s Moana Pasifika, having previously been in charge at the Blues.
“Just to be in the conversation, to have a role with the All Blacks again is pretty big,” said Umaga.
“It’s no small undertaking but it’s a privilege and an honour.”
Player revolt
Rennie took over earlier this month from Robertson, who was sacked midway through a four-year contract.
The 62-year-old former Wallabies coach Rennie has been tasked with whipping New Zealand into shape for next year’s World Cup in Australia following a scathing 2025 performance review and a rumoured player revolt against Robertson.
Rennie led the Chiefs to Super Rugby titles in 2012 and 2013, his first two years in charge. After leaving the Chiefs in 2017 he took charge of Glasgow Warriors.
The first matches for Rennie and his new coaching team will be at home in July against France, Italy and Ireland.
The All Blacks and Springboks will then clash in an epic four-Test series, with three of those matches scheduled to take place in South Africa and the fourth fixture in Baltimore in the United States.
Has this new backroom staff made the All Blacks more formidable? Should Springbok fans be worried?
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By Garrin Lambley © Agence France-Presse