Speaking exclusively to BOYLE Sports , three-time Lions coach Warren Gatland has assessed the state of the All Blacks under new head coach Dave Rennie .
Gatland has run through a lengthy New Zealand injury list, explained why it hands Rennie a chance to develop the strength in depth that has served South Africa so well, and drawn clear parallels between the All Blacks and Rennie 's former side, Kobe .
The former coach has also given his verdict on the Greatest Rivalry series between South Africa and New Zealand , and why losing Tony Brown to the Springboks was a blow worth watching.
The Injury List
Who Are the Key Players Out For New Zealand?
You've lost Leroy Carter , and Quinten Strange is injured at the moment. Luke Jacobson and Simon Parker are doubts, and Richie Mo'unga , will he get back, and is he going to be fit?
Billy Proctor in the midfield and a few others as well. So, they've got quite a long list of injuries. I think a few players have already been ruled out of selection.
Dave Rennie
What Do You Make of Dave Rennie Taking Over?
I think he's had experience at international level with Australia . I think that would have been good for him. The thing with Razor is that he's been unbelievably and incredibly successful as a coach with Canterbury and the Crusaders , but probably for him not having that other international experience or coaching other teams.
Rennie 's had a little bit more of that being up in Japan . I know some of the boys who had been with Kobe and had Dave Rennie for the last three years enjoyed him and his coaching team.
He's pretty straight up, and he knows exactly what he wants in terms of the way that he wants to play. I watched Kobe playing, and there's a lot of similarities in the way that Kobe played that the All Blacks are currently playing at the moment, in terms of shifting the ball from kick-offs in their 22, looking for opportunities there, their counterattack style, and players working hard to get back to edges to give them that counterattacking opportunity.
He had a good start; you lose three games in a row against South Africa , and critics come out and have a little bit of a crack, and then he's won the last couple of games and everything sort of looks like it's back on track.
The Greatest Rivalry
What Did You Make of the Series Between South Africa and New Zealand?
Yeah, it could have been 2-all. I think the All Blacks played well in the first game, and then they'll probably be disappointed because the game they lost is the one where Ruben Love missed a few shots that he normally would have kicked. They missed a couple of tackles where South Africa scored, and that's the difference between winning and losing at this level.
The impressive thing about South Africa , and something they never did in the past, is the luxury Rassie has because of the success he's had; he is prepared to make changes. He has developed depth within the squad.
There was a time when South Africa basically put out the same 22, 23 players week in, week out, no matter who they were playing, but they've definitely developed a heck of a lot of depth in this squad.
Tony Brown
Was Tony Brown a Big Loss When He Went to South Africa?
Yeah, I think so. I haven't really had a lot to do with Tony Brown , and all I've heard is positive things about him. He's signing for New Zealand after the World Cup next year.
I think the fact that he has that experience in Super Rugby , with Japan , and now with South Africa , I think it'll be really good for him and good for New Zealand rugby.
He's coming back to New Zealand after the World Cup , so I wonder what Mike Blair must be feeling!
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