Morgan Turinui says Dave Rennie is not “going anywhere” as pressure grows on the Wallabies coach ahead of a daunting clash with world No.1 Ireland on Sunday (AEDT).
Rennie’s decision to make 12 changes to his starting XV backfired spectacularly in a historic 28-27 loss to Italy in Florence at the weekend.
Australia has won just four of its 12 Tests in 2022 and Rennie’s overall winning percentage is just 37.5 per cent.
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The Wallabies went into the weekend ranked seventh in the world, with Italy 12th.
Former Test captain Stirling Mortlock was incensed by the loss to Italy and told AAP that “there is no way that we are going to win the World Cup next year”.
But while disappointed and concerned, Turinui - the former Wallaby turned respected analyst – took a more measured view of the team’s woes.
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“He’s the Wallabies head coach. Pressure is the job,” Turinui told Stan Sport.
“If they win, he looks like a genius. If they lose, questions are asked. I don’t think he’s going anywhere. I am impressed with a lot of the work he’s done.
“I don’t see an obvious, better solution. It’s all well and good to talk about coaches but you’ve got to have a better, viable solution waiting in the wings. I think Dave Rennie is doing a fine job with the players he has.”
Turinui added that the Wallabies were struggling to deal with how the European teams were currently attacking.
“A couple of line breaks were real changes of pictures. The Wallabies are not coping with that attacking shape,” he said.
“They’ve got a lot of work to do defensively.”
Rugby Australia chairman Hamish McLennan two months ago guaranteed Rennie would see out his contract through to the World Cup but a loss to Italy could well move the goal posts.
After the Dublin Test, the Wallabies finish their tour against Wales in Cardiff.
Wales beat Michael Cheika’s Argentina 20-13 at the weekend.
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