All you need to know about Dave Rennie’s new All Blacks coaching group

Saturday, 28 March 2026

Taranaki coach Neil Barnes brings a wealth of experience, and nous, to Dave Rennie’s All Blacks setup.

ANALYSIS: After two years of coaching confusion, if not outright chaos, Dave Rennie takes charge of the All Blacks with important bridges to rebuild and confidence to win back. On the positive side of the ledger, he looks to have assembled a crew well capable of achieving just that.

You can never be sure about these things, but all appearances are Rennie has surrounded himself with like-minded, capable and aligned individuals in the wake of the unprecedented mid-World Cup cycle coaching shakeup that saw head coach Scott Robertson axed and only likeable forwards guru Jason Ryan retained.

It’s difficult to be emphatic about the state of Robertson’s coaching setup, as assessment was kept in-house. But we know there was considerable concern amid feedback from players and neutral assessors, we know Robertson had two coaches resign during his two years (Leon MacDonald and Jason Holland) and we know the eye-test told us these All Blacks had repeated failings and notable weaknesses and suffered several concerning defeats.

It’s history now that NZ Rugby chairman David Kirk sacked Robertson early this year – the first head coach removed mid-RWC cycle – and that the experienced and hard-nosed Rennie was appointed successor.

Rennie has added Taranaki dairy farmer and coaching lifer Neil Barnes as his chief assistant, retained Ryan to run the forwards (alongside Barnes), and added former national skipper Tana Umaga (defence) and Scotland’s most capped scrum-half Mike Blair (attack) to his setup.

It’s a strong group that ticks a lot of boxes and, most important, appears well aligned. Rennie has worked with them all, bar Ryan, and understands dynamics and strengths in play. Ryan, having survived two coaching changes, has carved a reputation as both a survivor and an effective technical coach and communicator.

Moana Pasifika coach Tana Umaga brings key attributes to the team he once led on the field so effectively.

Rennie and Barnes look ready to set a refreshingly old-school, high-standards environment, yet also allow for innovative, out-the-box thinking around the game. They seem well equipped to get a wavering culture and communication setup back on track.

Umaga shapes as a key conduit to the heavy Maori and Pasifika culture within the team, and has real strengths as a hands-on coach and motivator, while Blair takes on the heavy responsibility of introducing effectiveness and nuance to a wavering All Blacks attack.

NZR acting CEO Steve Lancaster made it clear this is Rennie’s crew: “He came into this process clear on what his vision was, how he wanted to lead it and the people he wanted alongside. We’re happy we’ve been able to get there.”

Here then are five key questions about the new All Blacks coaching crew asked and answered:

Sum up this new group in one word?

With apologies to grammar sticklers, how about oldschool? Direct, uncomplicated might be two others.

All Blacks forwards guru Jason Ryan is the great survivor of the last few national coaching groups.

Robertson clearly struggled with communication. The more worldly, travelled and uncomplicated Rennie will fix that, and establish a culture of accountability. Barnes also comes in with a refreshing honesty and straight-talking nature – you have to think there is no equivocation around what he wants.

Umaga’s addition could be a master-stroke. He’s led this team on-field, and understands aspects like culture and leadership. His strength is very much in coach-player relationships and building harmonious environments. Rennie will lean on him for that.

What will be their biggest challenges?

TIme. They’ll have just weeks to get a new group on the same page before confronting a weakened France, Italy and Ireland in July, with the four-test series against the Boks to follow in quick order. They must resist a message overload.

Rennie will ultimately be judged on how the All Blacks perform at the World Cup, but that tour to South Africa (and added test in Baltimore) shapes as a mighty early challenge that could make or break his ambitions.

Did this group come at a cost for New Zealand Rugby?

It sure did. Robertson probably got at least a year’s salary as his early-termination payout, and Hansen’s severance would also have had a price. But it could have been worse. NZR were able to divert Tamati Ellison to the Maori role, and Jason Holland had bailed out anyway, to the Hurricanes and, from next year, to assume the Blues’ head coach role.

It’s unsure what deal lineout specialist Bryn Evans was on, but Lancaster confirmed he would continue in his current role with the Hurricanes. Given the message from players, it was a price NZR simply had to pay.

What plays out before July when they assemble for the Nations Championship?

Compromise. Connection via Zoom. And some in-depth planning and preparation.

It’s not an ideal scenario, with Rennie and Blair committed to seeing out terms in Japan and Umaga likewise with Moana Pasifika. Their attention is naturally divided.

On the positive side, Barnes and Ryan are free to circulate the Super circuit as the faces of the new coaching setup, and Lancaster said it was a compromise HQ was willing to live with. Rennie will be back each bye week in Japan, and communicates regularly with All Blacks leadership, his coaches, and bosses.

Why wasn’t Scott Hansen retained?

Make no mistake, Robertson aside, the ex-Canterbury halfback turned attack coach is the chief victim of this unprecedented mid-World Cup cycle shakeup. His face, and style, simply no longer fit.

Robertson clearly rated him. But it’s understood senior All Blacks were not so enamoured of his approach. And the two coaches who worked closest with him both quitting sent a clear message. Time to move on.