'Karma': Quade Cooper reveals grim fears for Wallabies as Dave Rennie signs on as All Blacks coach

Wallabies great Quade Cooper has warned Dave Rennie might "come back to bite us" after the former Australia coach won the All Blacks job through to the 2027 Rugby World Cup.

Rennie coached the Wallabies from 2020-23 but was unceremoniously axed by then Rugby Australia chairman Hamish McLennan before the Rugby World Cup in France, where Eddie Jones led the team to an abysmal campaign.

The 62-year-old has since been working with the Kobe Steelers in Japan but will return south to take on the All Blacks job left vacant by Scott Robertson's surprise sacking in January.

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Cooper played under Rennie with the Wallabies, who will be coached by Les Kiss at next year's World Cup in Australia.

"Shout out to coach Dave Rennie. After the way he was treated by our administration in Australia, to now find himself with arguably the biggest job in rugby feels like a little bit of karma," Cooper wrote on social media.

"We let one of the best coaches in the game go. Not only did we let him go, we pushed him out the door. So seeing him land on his feet like this, I'm genuinely happy for him. The 'what could have been' might still come back to bite us, especially with a home World Cup coming in hot. Funny how the universe works sometimes.

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"Congrats to the All Blacks for appointing not just a top coach, but a good man who understands that the game is about people first. That will play a huge role in their culture. PS. You're the enemy now though."

New Zealand Rugby spoke with Wallabies who played under Rennie before offering him the job.

"I am nothing but really stoked for him," Test great Michael Hooper told Wide World of Sports.

Rennie becomes the first person with Cook Islands or Pasifika heritage to coach the All Blacks.

He won the job ahead of Highlanders coach Jamie Joseph.

"What tipped it was just Dave's international experience as much as anything," NZR chairman David Kirk said.

"He's coached all over the world and is very familiar with northern hemisphere rugby as well. The game is changing a lot and the northern hemisphere, in some cases - we don't like to say it - are leading

"It was very obvious to us that he had an understanding of the game that was fit for purpose for us, for New Zealand.

"For our skills, for our natural ability and where we come from. And he was able to articulate what it would take to win."

Rennie is yet to name his assistants but Neil Barnes and Mike Blair have been tipped as leading candidates, as well as incumbent forwards coach Jason Ryan.

"We will work through that, I've got a strength of surrounding myself with quality people. People who can make a difference. So I'm keen to bring some people in," Rennie said.

"But when a head coach leaves, it affects a lot of people. What I want to do is sit down and talk to some of the affected people and then make some decisions over the next week or two.

Rennie will wrap up his duties in Japan before joining the All Blacks for the July home series against France, Italy, and Ireland.

"Coaching the All Blacks is an incredible honour," Rennie said.

"I'm extremely proud to have been entrusted with this role and understand the expectations that come with it. I'm really clear on the way I want the All Blacks to play and I look forward to working with the players, management team, and the rugby community. We have a lot of talent here and we will be working extremely hard to make the country proud."