Dave Rennie, the new All Blacks coach, is a red flag for Rassie & his world champions Boks. Here is why as the Boks prepare for Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry four-Test series against the All Blacks, three in South Africa and the final Test in Baltimore, USA.

Rennie’s record against the Springboks, when coach of the Wallabies between 2020 and 2022, is a powerful statement.

Rennie’s Wallabies beat the Springboks three times in four Tests

Against the Springboks coached by Rassie Erasmus and Jacques Nienaber, Rennie’s Australia team went:

• 3 wins

• 1 loss

Victories came in:

• Gold Coast (2021)

• Brisbane (2021)

• Adelaide (2022)

The Boks won 24-8 in Sydney a week after the Adelaide defeat. It marked Canan Moodie’s Test debut as a 19 year-old.

Even more powerful is Rennie’s record, as Chiefs coach between 2012 and 2017, against South African Super Rugby Teams.

Rennie’s tenure at the Chiefs (2012-2017):

Chiefs vs South African franchises

• Played: 24

• Wins: 18

• Draws: 2

• Losses: 4

 

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Rennie’s Chiefs vs South African teams (2012–2017)

2012

1. Cheetahs 11 – 29 Chiefs
   Free State Stadium, Bloemfontein

2. Sharks 18 – 28 Chiefs
   Kings Park, Durban

3. Chiefs 34 – 18 Lions
   Waikato Stadium, Hamilton

4. Chiefs 28 – 19 Bulls
   Waikato Stadium, Hamilton

5. Chiefs 37 – 6 Sharks (Final)
   Waikato Stadium, Hamilton

Record: 5 wins, 0 losses

2013

6. Chiefs 34 – 20 Cheetahs
   Waikato Stadium, Hamilton

7. Stormers 36 – 34 Chiefs
   Newlands, Cape Town

8. Chiefs 56 – 29 Kings
   Waikato Stadium, Hamilton

9. Chiefs 34 – 22 Sharks
   Waikato Stadium, Hamilton

Record: 3 wins, 1 loss

2014

10. Chiefs 28 – 19 Stormers
    Waikato Stadium, Hamilton

11. Chiefs 22 – 16 Lions
    Waikato Stadium, Hamilton

12. Bulls 34 – 34 Chiefs
    Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria

13. Cheetahs 20 – 20 Chiefs
    Free State Stadium, Bloemfontein

Record: 2 wins, 2 draws

2015

14. Stormers 19 – 29 Chiefs
    Newlands, Cape Town

15. Chiefs 41 – 27 Bulls
    Waikato Stadium, Hamilton

16. Chiefs 27 – 24 Cheetahs
    Waikato Stadium, Hamilton

17. Sharks 18 – 17 Chiefs
    Kings Park, Durban

Record: 3 wins, 1 loss

2016

18. Chiefs 37 – 29 Kings
    Waikato Stadium, Hamilton

19. Chiefs 24 – 22 Sharks
    Waikato Stadium, Hamilton

20. Lions 43 – 20 Chiefs
    Waikato Stadium, Hamilton

21. Stormers 21 – 60 Chiefs (Quarter-final)
    Newlands, Cape Town

Record: 3 wins, 1 loss

2017

22. Chiefs 28 – 12 Bulls
    FMG Stadium Waikato, Hamilton

23. Stormers 34 – 26 Chiefs
    Newlands, Cape Town

24. Stormers 11 – 17 Chiefs (Quarter-final)
    Newlands, Cape Town

Record: 2 wins, 1 loss

Overall Rennie Chiefs record vs South African teams

Matches: 24
Wins: 18
Draws: 2
Losses: 4

Win rate: ~75%

Record in South Africa

Played in South Africa: 8

• Wins: 4

• Draws: 2

• Losses: 2

Unbeaten in 6 of 8 matches in South Africa.

Losses were:

• Sharks 18 – 17 Chiefs (Durban, 2015)

• Stormers 34 – 26 Chiefs (Cape Town, 2017)

Of Rennie’s 20 positive results (18 wins + 2 draws) against South African opposition:

• 6 came in South Africa

• 14 came in New Zealand

Against individual SA franchises

• Sharks: 4–1

• Stormers: 3–2

• Bulls: 3–0–1 (incl. draw)

• Cheetahs: 3–0–1

• Lions: 2–1

• Kings: 2–0

Playoff record vs SA teams

• 2–0

2016 Quarter-final

Stormers 21–60 Chiefs
Newlands, Cape Town

2017 Quarter-final

Stormers 11–17 Chiefs
Newlands, Cape Town

The Stormers team beaten 60-21 at home in 2016 included seven Springboks (at the time). Six of those Springboks would become World Cup winners.

• Siya Kolisi – future Springbok captain

• Eben Etzebeth – Springbok lock & the most capped Test Bok.

• Frans Malherbe – Springbok tighthead

• Bongi Mbonambi – Springbok hooker

• Steven Kitshoff – Springbok loosehead

• Damian de Allende – Springbok centre

• Juan de Jongh – Springbok centre

Rennie, who won three successive under 20 World titles, won his final one against the Junior Springboks 37-6. It was the only time his under 20s met South Africa in the three tournaments. 

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Rennie has been appointed All Blacks coach until the completion of the 2027 World Cup in Australia. He replaces Scott Robertson who was axed after two seasons, having won 20 from 27 Tests for a 75 percent win record. Robertson, however lost three from four Tests to the Springboks, including a record 43-10 home defeat in Wellington in 2025.

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SPRINGBOKS LEAD LATEST WORLD RANKINGS AND ENGLAND DROP TO 6th 

1 South Africa 93.94

2 New Zealand 90.33

3 Ireland 88.89

4 France 87.03 (-1.37)

5 Argentina 84.97 (+1)

6 England 84.34 (-1.28) (-1)

7 Scotland 83.08 (+1.37)

8 Australia 81.53

9 Fiji 81.14

10 Italy 81.09 (+1.28)