Australia: Dave Rennie says data shows improvement for Super Rugby Pacific teams

Wallabies coach Dave Rennie believes that the statistics and data generated this season clearly show Australia’s Super Rugby teams have developed.

The Waratahs headlined a strong weekend for Australian teams when they claimed a narrow 24-21 victory over the Crusaders last weekend in a shock victory. The Brumbies followed suit, claiming their second

New Zealand scalp of the season with a 42-25 win over the Hurricanes in Canberra.

The improvement is clear, with Australian sides already winning more games against their New Zealand rivals in the last two rounds of Super Rugby Pacific compared to the entire Trans-Tasman competition in 2021.

Rennie receives data from all the clubs and believes the players are certainly better conditioned this season.

“We gather GPS data from all the sides and our sports scientist Warwick Harrington goes through all of that and he shares information back to the clubs around the intensity and various numbers that are important to us,” Rennie told AAP.

“There’s been a distinct improvement this year and we’ve seen the benefits of that on the park.

“We’re really happy with the shifts made at Super level and I think our players are better conditioned.”

New Zealand teams have always been renowned for their complete skill sets, but Rennie insists that the Australian sides have made massive ground in this department, closing the gap between the two teams.

“Skill sets have improved and there’s been a lot of emphasis put on that and at Test level there’s even more pressure so we’ve still got a way to go,” said Rennie.

“But there’s been good shifts, I reckon, and we’ve seen that on the weekend.

“It gives us confidence, it gives our players confidence to know that playing against some of the best players