Dave Rennie has been named the new coach of the All Blacks.
Rennie, the former Wallabies head coach, beat Jamie Joseph to become Scott Robertson's successor.
The news was confirmed on social media by the All Blacks.
Watch Andrew Saville break down the appointment on TVNZ+
Rennie's appointment over Joseph, thought to be the only other candidate, closes a tumultuous period for the All Blacks following Robertson’s shock dismissal in January.
Currently coaching in Japan, Rennie, who has signed a two-year deal, will lead the All Blacks through this year’s inaugural Nations Championship and gruelling eight-match tour of South Africa before he turns his attention to next year’s World Cup in Australia.
Joseph had been the favourite to replace Robertson, axed halfway through his four-year tenure following a review last year, when he was appointed head coach of the All Blacks XV for their three-match tour of the United Kingdom and Europe.
The interview panel consisted of interim chief executive Steve Lancaster, former All Black Dane Coles, NZ Rugby chairman David Kirk, former All Black Keven Mealamu, and former high-performance executive Don Tricker, the latter on secondment from MLB team San Diego Padres.
Their decision was rubber stamped by the NZ Rugby board.
Rennie’s first assignment will be to name a squad for the three home Nations Championship Tests in July against France, Italy and Ireland.
“Coaching the All Blacks is an incredible honour. I’m extremely proud to have been entrusted with this role and understand the expectations that come with it," Rennie said.
“I’m really clear on the way I want the All Blacks to play and I look forward to working with the players, management team, and the rugby community. We have a lot of talent here and we will be working extremely hard to make the country proud.”
There will be an expectation that he quickly gets his men on the same page in terms of game plan and strategy after Robertson’s short-lived reign characterised by inconsistency and a lack of progress.
The All Blacks won 10 Tests and lost four in 2024 – the defeats coming against South Africa (twice), Argentina and France. Last year Robertson's men won 10 and lost to the Springboks, Argentina and England.
The 43-10 humiliation at the hands of the Boks in Wellington in September, after the All Blacks led at halftime, would have caused huge concern among NZ Rugby executives and another mistake-ridden second-half performance in the defeat after a halftime lead at Twickenham in November provided further ammunition.
Final-quarter collapses were a feature of the All Blacks under Robertson and put his and his assistants' communications style and effectiveness under the spotlight.
If the end-of-season review, which is said to have featured some scathing feedback from players, did for Robertson, the All Blacks’ World Cup draw in December, which put New Zealand and South Africa on a quarter-final collision course, would have further focused minds at NZ Rugby headquarters.
Rennie will work with NZ Rugby over the appointment of his assistants, leaving the future of incumbents Scott Hansen, Jason Ryan and Tamati Ellison uncertain.
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