Rennie says Australia job is ‘unlikely’

GLASGOW WARRIORS head coach Dave Rennie tried to play down speculation linking him with the Australia head coach’s role. However, far from ruling it out, the New Zealander could only stress it was ‘unlikely’ he would succeed Michael Cheika after this year’s World Cup, although his former boss at the SRU, Scott Johnson, will be making the appointment. Johnson stepped down from his job as the Director of Elite Rugby at Murrayfield after the Six Nations to take up a similar role with the Australian Rugby Union. And Rennie, whose contract with Warriors runs out next summer, is top of Johnson’s list of successors to Cheika. ‘It’s just speculation. When there’s a potential job up for grabs, they look at options,’ said Rennie, whose team take on the Cheetahs in the Pro14 tonight at Scotstoun. ‘My deal is until the middle of 2020. I’d imagine most of these jobs are going to be gobbled up straight after the World Cup.’ Rennie, when asked whether he was ruling himself out of the Australia job completely, replied: ‘You never say never do you. I’m committed here until July 2020, so that’s what I’m saying. It’s unlikely.’ Kick-off: 7.45pm at Scotstoun. LIVE on Premier Sports. GLASGOW WARRIORS: Jackson; Matawalu, Steyn, McDowall, Hughes; Horne, Frisby; Kebble, Brown, Zander Fagerson, Cummings, Swinson, Harley, Gibbins, M Fagerson. Replacements: Stewart, Bhatti, Halanukonuka, Flockart, Fusaro, Hastings, Kelly, Nairn.