All Blacks boss Dave Rennie’s grasp of media pressure is matched only by his obsession with mobile, ball-playing forwards, according to Stormers prop Oli Kebble.
Kebble worked under Rennie for three seasons at the Glasgow Warriors before the former Chiefs coach moved on to the Wallabies job in 2020.
Speaking in a wide-ranging interview with News24, the 12-cap Scotland international said Rennie’s needling of Rassie Erasmus’ Springboks over their scrummaging during the Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry series was a deliberate ploy.
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“He’s quite clever; he’ll say one or two things in the media to get under the [opposition’s] skin,” Kebble said. “But sometimes it’s so that they focus on that while they’re working on something else … I can guarantee Dave knew the response he was going to get when he said that.
“Maybe it was just to heat things on that front while they’re working on another tactic for this game coming up.”
MORE: Rennie sidesteps scrum controversy
On what Saturday’s forward battle between the Boks and New Zealand at FNB Stadium will look like, Kebble said Rennie’s demands centre on rapid ball recycling and tight-five mobility.
“In a perfect world he’d want his most mobile tight five that can move the ball around,” he explained. “You could see how they’re keeping the ball alive … regardless of the number on their back.
“That’s a big part of how he composes his game. He said lightning-quick ball was the best way to beat any defence.”
Photo: Johan Orton/Gallo Images
The post ‘Rennie knew how to get under Rassie’s skin’ appeared first on SA Rugby magazine.
All Blacks boss Dave Rennie’s grasp of media pressure is matched only by his obsession with mobile, ball-playing forwards, according to Stormers prop Oli Kebble.
The post ‘Rennie knew how to get under Rassie’s skin’ appeared first on SA Rugby magazine. Read More
