New Zealander Joe Schmidt has been confirmed as the Wallabies’ new coach on a two-year deal through to the end of the British and Irish Lions tour.
The 58-year-old spent more than six years as head coach of Ireland and joins from the All Blacks where he was an assistant to Ian Foster at the World Cup.
He won three Six Nations titles with Ireland but was let go following a quarter-final exit at the 2019 World Cup.
Schmidt follows the disastrous and short second coming of Eddie Jones – who led the Wallabies to a worst-ever World Cup result in France, before walking out on a code in crisis to rejoin Japan as the Brave Blossoms’ coach.
Jones had been given a five-year deal and the calamitous nature of his return – which also claimed the scalp of RA chair Hamish McLennan – is reason for caution when it comes to contract length for the new coach.
Schmidt, who starts on March 1, follows Dave Rennie and Robbie Deans as Kiwis given the Wallabies’ head coach role.
Other candidates linked to the role included Dan McKellar and Stephen Larkham, and there are many who believe Australia’s head coach should be an Australian.
Former Test player Greg Martin argued Larkham’s case on his Triple M Breakfast with Marto, Margaux & Dan show on Friday.
“Robbie Deans was appointed as the Wallaby coach about ten years ago then Dave Rennie only about five years ago and was sacked for Eddie Jones. So, we’ve had two Kiwis, and both times it’s ended in tears and we’re about to go down the same track,” said Martin.
“We needed Stephen Larkham, we needed a bloke who has won a World Cup who is an Australian.
“We’re going to overlook another Australian … for another Kiwi to coach Australia, bad move in my mind!
“We’ll get beaten by the Kiwis in July and August and everyone will go, ‘Oh well, that was a dud!,’ we’ll sack him (Joe Schmidt) and we’ll be back in the same position again.”
Schmidt will report to Rugby Australia’s new director of high performance, Peter Horne. They have worked togeher previously with World Rugby, while Schmidt is also close to RA advisor David Nucifora from their time together in Ireland.
“The upcoming Test matches against Wales will arrive quickly, post-Super Rugby, and the program through to the British and Irish Lions Tour next year presents plenty of opportunities and challenges – which I am sure will invigorate players and staff.
“I am looking forward to connecting with Super Rugby coaches, RA staff, and getting to observe and meet players in the coming months.”
Horne explained the recruitment process.
“It has been a thorough process to make sure that we have landed the best and most suitable candidate – conducted by a panel including Dan Herbert and Phil Waugh, Joe Roff, John Eales, David Nucifora, RA’s head of people and culture and myself,” Horne said in a statement.
“It was a unanimous decision to appoint Joe – everyone on the panel was impressed by his demeanour, his calm and logical approach to the game, as well as his communication style.
“Throughout his career, Joe has demonstrated an ability to take a leadership role in structural reform while developing a strong culture and world-class players.
New Zealanders have surprisingly given new Wallabies head coach Joe Schmidt the edge over All Blacks coach Scott Robertson as both head into their maiden Rugby Championship campaigns.
In a poll run by the NZ Herald, fans voted that Schmidt was the better coach, with 41% of readers giving the former Ireland head coach the thumbs up.
Only 37% of readers voted for Robertson, who has taken charge of the All Blacks after guiding the Crusaders to six Super Rugby titles.
22% were on the fence and are waiting for the first Bledisloe Cup match between the two teams.
Schmidt was appointed as Wallabies head coach last week, taking over from Eddie Jones, and will coach Australia through to at least the end of the British & Irish Lions Series in 2025.
The New Zealander was in charge of Ireland for six years between 2013 and 2019, winning three Six Nations titles and World Rugby’s Coach of the Year award in 2018. Under Schmidt, Ireland also claimed their first ever win against the All Blacks.
“From my personal experience working with Joe at World Rugby, he is an ideal fit for the Wallabies and Australian Rugby at this time, and I am looking forward to working closely with him on developing a stronger alignment with our Super Rugby clubs to maximise our performances.”
Rugby Australia CEO Phil Waugh said Schmidt had a proven track record.
“Joe has delivered success at every stop in his career – winning European titles with Leinster, winning Six Nations championships, leading Ireland to World No.1 for the first time and, most recently, his role in the All Blacks’ run to the Rugby World Cup final,” Waugh said.
“He has also been a World Coach of the Year after he won the Six Nations Grand Slam in 2018.
“Given our stated plan to build a unified Australian Rugby system, Joe’s experience with Ireland and New Zealand – two of the most aligned Rugby nations in the world – will no doubt prove valuable as we move forward.
“He has a global view of the game from his experience in both the Northern and Southern hemispheres, and his appointment puts us in a strong position as we build towards the 2025 British and Irish Lions Tour.”
piru
Roar Rookie
Looking at it from the other side, would be very hard to have a worse go at it than Eddie.
piru
Roar Rookie
Yep, refs too
LuckyPhil
Roar Rookie
100%. That's why IMO, Australia need a third tier or u20's professional comp. Helps players, coaches, and support staff.
Peta Smith
Roar Rookie
I’ve been blocked twice for challenging the powers that be, so does happen (called out blatant racism & got blocked). Yup, it’s petty… Definitely can’t wait for the rugby! :thumbup:
Cam Watts
Roar Rookie
Thanks for the warning Peta, but at this late stage I don't know that I'd really care (petty as it would be on the Roar's behalf). Guess we just need some games of rugby to discuss - I hate this between-season waiting!
Jez North
Roar Rookie
It suggesting someone could have done it better than Deans in that first 3 years crumbfingers but ensuring there is perspective around his overall reign. Many Deans fanatics like to frame his tenure as overachieving with the Wallabies (ranking up around 2-3). My argument is you can’t compare the players from 2009-2011 with post 2012. I also think Deans struggled dealing with players who weren’t bleeding for the jersey like he was used to in New Zealand. You didn’t have Dan Carter or Richie McCaw’s agents holding the code to ransom during contract negotiations. Nor did you have them spouting about their brand or going to Burger King at 3am before a massive test match.
Hoy
Roar Guru
Oddly, Link handled Cooper just fine. The rest I agree with, though Link left not through issues with the playing group, but more, specific parties within the playing group...
MrEflord
Roar Rookie
Well hopefully the rebels who are a rabble will be moved on soon…
Hoy
Roar Guru
I agree with this Jez. He oversaw the 2009/2010 resurgence, but it all fell apart at the 2011 WC. He made bizarre game plan decisions with minimal time to bed them down, odd selections, and then the dressing room blew up.
piru
Roar Rookie
Yeah that would be a bit rough.
piru
Roar Rookie
And say you were extraordinarily successful, ended up coaching premier grade, where to from there?
piru
Roar Rookie
Name them
Jacko
Roar Rookie
Yes agree. Has gotten used to having things his own way inc reffing in many cases. I look forward to Razors approach tho as we have had succession coaches for some time now so he may bring in some new thoughts and idea's. Funnily enough he has less retirements to deal with than his predecessor.
Lichtfield
Roar Rookie
He hasn't had many opportunities to learn humility, to be honest. The only SR title he didn't win was in 2021 and, even then, he won all five games and still managed to miss the final. It will be interesting to see how he goes after an inevitable loss at test level (though probably against SA rather than the Wallabies) and if NZ can recapture some of their dominance under him. While they deserved their place in the final, they have been far from the dominant side of the past between the 2019 and 2023 RWCs and they have a bit of a changing of the guard to deal with.
Lichtfield
Roar Rookie
It was JS decision but it was driven by personal issues and his sons epilepsy. And he didn't rule out extending beyond if conditions allow. He had already expected to be retired from full time head coaching and travel commitments by now and in a position to help with the care of his son.
Lichtfield
Roar Rookie
Fair call but he has been a successful coach elsewhere - almost everywhere - he has coached. So if Joe fails, it might be because he wasn't good enough but it also might be because our administration and other areas of the game aren't good enough. I think the administration has made some good recent decisions but being able to get buy-in from the states etc and having the financial capability to pay for it all might limit his ability to do his job. I think it should be relatively easy to get some improvement. Eddie had a very high risk approach to selection and game plan. Even if we had just taken some more experienced play makers and maybe Hooper or Samu they might have brought enough composure to get us through the Fiji game and that would have meant a QF. But, if we had made the QFs we would probably still have Eddie as a coach..... Truth is I don't know Schmidt will work or not. But I would like him to succeed. I wanted Eddie to succeed and, for that matter, Rennie and Cheika and McKenzie and Deans (Dean's win-loss record is probably good enough to call him successful anyway). But you are right in that we don't need to be making excuses for a coach. I just hope it works.
In From The Side
Roar Rookie
It’ll take a lot of work to get over 50%. I think over 35 is more realistic
Peta Smith
Roar Rookie
Piru, please make no mention of “sandpaper-gate”?!?!
Filstrup
Roar Rookie
Rennie had half of team as a cohesive unit suffering long term injuries. Worst ever WBs coach. Despite Rennie announced "a review into crippling injury toll" No serious review was conducted on such repetitive injuries happening the previous year to the RWC: Cooper, Kerevi, Ikitau,& Tupou never completely recovered. And for the "preferential treatment" insulting E Jones -as usual coming from kiwi sources- similar to the treatment Cheika received dubbed "clown" and the rest. RA is missing the point, McKellar or Larkham were the right choice to fit into the new normal in world rugby. Or -if an outsider was preferred - O'Gara would have been a must. Forget the old - Schmid, Foster, Cheika, White - and get on with the new, young generations of coaches.
Smidge42
Roar Rookie
Agreed. I reckon copper wire was invented by two roarers fighting over a penny. But I hope we all love the game enough to give this move sufficient air to succeed if possible. We’ll have plenty of time to moan about it if it doesn’t.