'Rennie machine' kicking into overdrive Down Under
Eyeing an unprecedented fourth successive Rugby Championship victory, scrumhalf Nic White says the Wallabies felt they were letting down coach Dave Rennie last year when they managed just one win.
The Wallabies will wrap up their tournament on the Gold Coast with a clash against Argentina, whom they beat 27-8 last Saturday.
In 2020, the Australians could manage only two draws with the Pumas and just one win from six Tests under new coach Rennie.
This year they possess five wins from nine Tests, making it more palatable for local fans.
White said their failure to live up to the coach’s lofty expectations made the team feel they were letting Rennie and his staff down.
“Dave and Wisey [assistant coach Scott Wisemantel] are world-class and last year as a playing group we almost felt like we let them down,” White said.
“Their detail within the game is quite high and they drive really high standards.
“It’s almost a game of catch-up for us as a group to play at the level they want us to play at – the benchmark they have is quite high but we’re getting there.”
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The 31-year-old said the Wallabies were playing with more patience before going for the “killer play”.
“I think we’re getting there; certainly in the last month we’re showing we’re a lot more patient with the game plan and trying to build a game.”
He said returning veteran playmaker Quade Cooper was key to that improved decision-making.
White and Cooper have been the starting halves in the past two Tests with the Brumbies No.9 loving what his partner brings to the side.
Despite playing more than 100 Tests between them, they have rarely started together.
“I haven’t played a huge amount with him but just from the last few games, the control he has over the game is probably the biggest thing,” White said.
“He’s really calm at 10 and he knows how to pull the right strings and manipulate the game plan to really suit the way we want to play the game.
“He has a really calm voice and just seems to have a lot of time so my job is easy – just get there and flip the ball to him.”
