UPDATE 1-Rugby-New Zealander Rennie appointed Wallabies coach - Rugby Australia

New Zealander Dave Rennie has been appointed Wallabies coach on a three-and-a-half-year deal that will see him guide Australia to the 2023 Rugby World Cup in France. Rennie, who led the Waikato Chiefs to back-to-back Super Rugby titles in 2012-13, replaces Michael Cheika after his resignation in the wake of the Wallabies' quarter-final exit from the Rugby World Cup in Japan.

"This is a massive coup for Australian rugby. Dave Rennie was the clear standout candidate for the job and we’re thrilled to have secured his services," Rugby Australia Chief Executive Raelene Castle said in a statement on Wednesday. "Dave’s coaching philosophy focuses equally on football and team culture, the key pillars to building sustainable success in any team.

"He has a proven track record in the northern and southern hemisphere." The 55-year-old Rennie will fulfil his coaching commitments with Scottish side Glasgow Warriors before joining the Wallabies in July 2020.

"I've been coaching professionally for over 20 years and wherever I've gone, I've immersed myself in the community and culture. I believe I can make a difference here," Rennie said in the RA statement. He becomes the Wallabies' second foreign coach, following compatriot Robbie Deans.

Former Canterbury Crusaders coach Deans took charge in 2008 and guided the Wallabies to the semi-finals of the 2011 World Cup in New Zealand before being sacked in the wake of their series defeat to the touring British and Irish Lions in 2013. Rennie was also among the 26 candidates New Zealand Rugby identified as potential successors to All Blacks head coach Steve Hansen, who bowed out after the side's semi-final exit in Japan.

With Jamie Joseph recently opting to extend his contract with Japan through to the next World Cup, the All Blacks' choices are becoming thinner. Rennie will take over a Wallabies team that boasts a number of top-shelf players but is also in transition after a disappointing World Cup, with a slew of seasoned campaigners retiring from internationals and heading overseas.

"There are some outstanding young men coming through the schools system," he said. "I want to create a strong connection with the Super Rugby and national age grade coaches and help them achieve their goals, which will benefit the Wallabies in time."

Rennie was seen as favourite to take over the Wallabies but a number of media pundits had urged RA to appoint a coach on a shorter deal after the governing body's experience with Cheika. With Cheika negotiating a favourable contract extension through to Japan after the Wallabies reached the 2015 World Cup final, RA had little choice but to persist with him after the team slumped to their worst season in decades in 2018.

A former Wellington centre, Rennie has Polynesian heritage and once represented a Cook Islands side in a non-capped match before carving out a coaching career with Wellington and later guiding the New Zealand under-20 side. He joined the Warriors in 2017 from the Chiefs and guided the Scottish team to the Pro14 final at Celtic Park and the quarter-final of the Heineken Champions Cup last season.

Scottish Rugby Chief Executive Mark Dodson congratulated him on his appointment. "He enhanced the strong, positive culture at Scotstoun and pushed the team to achieve significant results, playing some outstanding rugby on the way," Dodson said.

"He has conducted himself throughout with great professionalism and I know he will want to sign off his time in Glasgow with some silverware."

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