Wallabies coach

Australia's rebuilding New South Wales Waratahs stunned New Zealand powerhouse the Crusaders on Saturday, their first win over Kiwi opposition since 2019.

The ACT Brumbies were convincing winners over the Hurricanes on Sunday.

"The other sides all went close ... so it's good," Rennie said in Melbourne on Monday.

"I think we're certainly more competitive and teams can take a lot of confidence out of that.

Rennie has signed a four-year deal to coach Australia through to the France tournament and will arrive in Australia at the end of his current contract with Scottish side Glasgow, in June.

The former Chiefs coach has long been touted as the front runner to be Michael Cheika's successor.

Rugby Australia chief executive Raelene Castle said in a statement appiontment was a "coup" for Australian rugby and the culmination of a six-month search for Cheika's replacement.

The Wallabies were thrashed 54-34 in their Rugby Championship opener in Sydney last weekend, with only a late revival once the All Blacks had already run riot salvaging any pride.

Australia legend Lynagh tore into their performance on Sky Sports, saying their skills were "non-existent".

Cheika's side have the opportunity for revenge in Dunedin this weekend in the second Bledisloe Cup Test.

The Wallabies coach said there is little they can do to alter Lynagh's opinion aside from showing an improvement on the pitch.

Gregor Townsend's side ended a three-match losing streak against Australia in Sydney as they sealed a 24-19 win, Hamish Watson's second-half try proving decisive.

Defeat was a shock for the Wallabies given Scotland were without some of their star players like Stuart Hogg, Greig Laidlaw and Tommy Seymour due to British and Irish Lions responsibilities.

And one fan took to Facebook to express his anger at the loss, Jack Quigley calling the performance "a disgrace" and questioning how much the current Wallabies side care about playing for their country.

In a contentious aftermath to the match, All Blacks coach Steve Hansen accused his Wallabies counterpart Cheika of "hijacking" New Zealand's record celebrations following the Bledisloe Cup finale.

Seething at being dressed up as a red-nosed clown in the New Zealand Herald on the morning of the match, Cheika claimed the All Blacks do not respect the Wallabies.

"They dressed us up as clowns today. They put our crest on it, so they wouldn't want our comment (about the record)," Cheika snapped.