Dave Rennie

Dave Rennie confirms first Wallabies squad of 2021 ahead of camp next month

There are 14 uncapped players in the squad, including Australian Sevens representative Tim Anstee, former Junior Wallabies hooker Lachlan Lonergan and veteran David Porecki.

Reds off-season signing Suliasi Vunivalu has also earned selection in the Wallabies camp squad, following an impressive return to the 15-man game in Harvey Norman Super Rugby AU.

Western Force recruit Sitaleki Timani is set to return to the national fold after an eight year absence, with the 34-year-old named in a Wallabies squad for the first time since the 2013 Spring Tour.

Rennie lays out Rugby Australia's stance amid Koroibete rumours

The Melbourne Rebels flyer can command more than $1 million a year playing overseas and is expected to quit Australian rugby at the end of 2021 when his contract is up.

Rennie said he’d love to keep Koroibete, who had gone from strength to strength in the past 12 months and is now a global star.

“I agree, he’s been fantastic, phenomenal,” Rennie said.

“There’s been a couple of games he’s played this year where he’s been the best player on the field and you’ve only got to reflect back to the Bledisloe Cup game in Brisbane, he was sensational that day.

James O'Connor's return gives Wallabies coach Dave Rennie selection headache

O'Connor – who suffered a torn MCL in the Wallabies' 27-7 loss to the All Blacks at Eden Park before suffering a plantar fascia injury – did not feature on Rennie's team list for the record breaking loss to New Zealand at ANZ Stadium, the upset win against the same opponents at Suncorp Stadium or the frustrating 15-all draw against the Pumas.

But O'Connor started his press conference on Monday by declaring he would be fit and ready to steer the Australians to a season ending win against Argentina at Sydney's Bankwest Stadium on Saturday.

Dave Rennie rewards Kiwi-crushing backs but changes Wallabies forwards for Argentina

Slipper started in all four Bledisloe Cup tests as coach Dave Rennie's first-choice loosehead prop, but the Brumbies star suffered a dislocated elbow late in the first half of the Wallabies' last-start 24-22 win over the All Blacks.

The painful injury created a two-man race for the No 1 jersey between Slipper's Brumbies team-mate Sio and one-cap Waratah Angus Bell.

Bell showed he is more than capable of making the step up to international rugby when he replaced Slipper at Suncorp Stadium, but Rennie has opted for the safety of 66-test prop Sio for the key Argentina clash.

Rennie threatens selection changes after watching Wallabies miss 40 tackles

The Wallabies came crashing back to earth after last week’s thrilling 16-16 draw in Wellington as the All Blacks piled on four tries to one in a 27-7 rebound rout in Auckland on Sunday.

In chalking up their 20th straight trans-Tasman victory at Eden Park since 1986, no All Black was more destructive in punishing the Wallabies for their defensive deficiencies than rookie winger Caleb Clarke.

Wallabies boss Dave Rennie open to picking players based in New Zealand and Japan

Former Glasgow and Chiefs coach Rennie is quarantining in his native New Zealand and isn’t likely to arrive in Australia until after Super Rugby AU’s July 3 restart.

Rugby’s shutdown has given him ample thinking time and he described the Giteau Law as “under discussion”.

The law allows those playing overseas with 60 or more test caps and seven years of service to Australian rugby to play for the Wallabies, a loosening of the policy that allowed Matt Giteau to play in the 2015 World Cup.

Dave Rennie burning midnight oil to build Wallabies vision

Currently the boss of Scottish club Glasgow Warriors, Rennie has agreed a three-and-a-half-year deal as Australia's new head coach and will join the Wallabies at the end of the current UK season.

"I've got a bit of work to do from an Australian perspective," said Rennie, who was appointed in the wake of Michael Chieka's departure following the Wallabies' World Cup quarter-final exit.

"We're sorting out staff, not just coaches but the whole staffing group, and it's an extensive review.

Rennie named Wallabies coach

Rennie has signed a four-year deal to coach Australia through to the France tournament and will arrive in Australia at the end of his current contract with Scottish side Glasgow, in June.

The former Chiefs coach has long been touted as the front runner to be Michael Cheika's successor.

Rugby Australia chief executive Raelene Castle said in a statement appiontment was a "coup" for Australian rugby and the culmination of a six-month search for Cheika's replacement.