Ex-Kobe boss Dave Rennie laments All Blacks’ first loss to Wales in 73 years
Former Kobe Steelers head coach Dave Rennie lamented New Zealand’s performance after they were stunned by gallant Wales who defeated the visitors for the first time since 1953.
Rennie led Kobe to their first Japan Rugby League One title in June having been named as Scott Robertson’s successor in the All Blacks hotseat in March.
The former Wallabies head coach cut a forlorn figure as he faced the media following a herculean display from a vastly-improved Welsh side who - after an underwhelming win against Japan a week ago – etched their name into history with a 35-28 win in front of 55,152 fans at a raucous Principality Stadium in Cardiff.
Wales endured a record-breaking 18-match losing streak between 2023 and 2025 and, while the club game remains in a perilous state, the cautious signs for optimism under head coach Steve Tandy were backed up today with a heroic display that left the New Zealand contingent in the stadium shellshocked.
After tasting defeat to Wales for the first time in 35 games, Rennie did not hold back in his post-match press conference.
“I’m massively disappointed,” said Rennie who spent three seasons in Japan with the Kobelco-backed Steelers in Kobe.
“We started both halves poorly, we conceded 14 points quickly, we were a little bit disconnected. We had plenty of possession and territory and opportunities to squeeze them and pick them off.
“We need to be a lot better than that. I give credit to Wales, they were clinical when they got their chances and then they defended for massive periods. They were the better side tonight.”
New Zealand remain top of Southern Hemisphere table in the inaugural Nations Championship competition despite losing their unbeaten status with back-to-back world champions South Africa - who were edged out by France in a riveting encounter on Friday - one point behind them going into the final pool round next week.
Rennie, who led the Chiefs to consecutive Super Rugby titles, bemoaned his team’s inability to convert their possession into points as his former Kobe defence coach Peter Murchie, who joined the Welsh coaching setup in June, helped to engineer a famous Wales win courtesy of the hosts' impenetrable defence in the the closing 20 minutes.
“We created opportunities, but I thought we got a bit one dimensional. There was times when maybe we could have stayed on one side of the field and maybe played through them.
“We had good numbers but it was our decision making under pressure, they provided us with a lot of pressure tonight.”
Rennie, who coached against Richie Mo’unga’s Toshiba Brave Lupus side during the duration of the Crusaders kingpin's three-year stint in Japan, offered his assessment of the two-time League One winner’s frustrating afternoon in the Welsh capital.
“He was under a fair bit of pressure and he was forced to run a fair bit. It’s a tough day for the full group today.”
The All Blacks head to London next week to face Steve Borthwick’s resurgent England who are second in the Northern Hemisphere standings after a 13-try, 78-15 obliteration of Eddie Jones’ overmatched Japan.
Victors Wales will aim to extend their winning-streak to three games when they host the underperforming Wallabies who will turn their attention to Cardiff following Sunday’s trip to face Gregor Townsend’s Scotland at Murrayfield.
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