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New Wallabies coach breaks bread with Wessels

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Incoming Wallabies coach Dave Rennie has given his tick of approval to the Melbourne Rebels’ Super Rugby preparations ahead of their opening match on Saturday.

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Rennie spent time breaking bread with Rebels coach Dave Wessels and also observing their training before they flew out from Melbourne to Tokyo to face the Sunwolves.

The 56-year-old Kiwi, who was appointed as the new Wallabies coach last month in the wake of Michael Cheika’s post-World Cup departure, started his duties last week and is spending time visiting each of the Super Rugby clubs.

He’s seeking feedback from the players in a “variety of areas” as he looks to stamp his mark on the Wallabies.

Rennie said he was impressed with the Rebels set-up, which he hoped help translate to Wallabies success.

“I thought training was really good – I liked the gym program – it’s a real focus on trying to create explosive and powerful athletes, which reflects the type of game I want to play,” he said.

“There’s good intensity in training and that’s a real focus for us from an Australian point of view.

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“We want the teams to have a higher skill-set and that’s great to see that been driven here.”

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Rennie won’t join the Wallabies in a full-time capacity until June, when his contract with Glasgow ends, but he is working closely with Rugby Australia director of rugby Scott Johnson until then.

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He was happy with the connection between Australian Super Rugby clubs and the Wallabies – something set up under Cheika – which differed from his New Zealand perspective.

“I’ve visited the Waratahs and now the Rebels, and everyone is really supportive and I think the connections will be really strong, certainly as strong as anywhere else,” he said.

“I wouldn’t say there’s a massive All Black coach involvement in New Zealand – they just let you get on with it – but we want to show that we care.

“We’re not going to tell the guys how we want them to play, we will just support where we can.”

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