The Wallabies parted ways with the Greatest Showman and have replaced him with Sleepy Joe Schmidt, a “boring pragmatist” so laidback and softly spoken he makes Dave Rennie look like, well, Eddie Jones.
“Boring” and “pragmatist” are Joe Schmidt’s own words – not mine, but after 30 minutes of watching him try to outdo RA CEO Phil Waugh and High Performance director Peter Horne for nothing answers and meaningless word salad in his introductory media conference – and totally succeed – all you can do is agree with him, while desperately fighting the urge for a nap.
With the bland leading the bland one thing’s for certain: Schmidt better be a winner or Australian rugby’s steady descent from public consciousness is going to be fast tracked.
RA CEO Phil Waugh speaks to media alongside Joe Schmidt. (Photo by Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images)
The decision to choose Schmidt as Jones’ replacement has been widely hailed throughout the rugby world. He has his fans in Ireland and New Zealand, and his impressive CV clearly makes him a strong choice for the job.
But rugby is facing an existential crisis in Australia and we absolutely need Schmidt to hit the ground running on the scoreboard, if he’s not going to fire up in the public arena.
Jones had Waugh safely covered for charisma but Schmidt and the Rugby Australia CEO are much closer in delivery style. A penny for the thoughts of the “horse guy” Peter V’landys if he bothered to watch Schmidt’s muted unveiling.
Australia might have jumped in on the intriguing and bonding narrative of a Dan McKellar or Stephen Larkham, and the short term nature of Schmidt’s contract means it’s likely one of those or an another Aussie will take Australia to the World Cup anyway.
Schmidt has a child with serious health issues and thought he’d retired a couple of years ago, and was not inclined to suggest he’d be powering through beyond the next two seasons.
So is he a firm hand on the tiller required after the unhinged Captain Queeg character previously at the helm? Or will he be a lame duck skipper drifting on a great sea of indifference?
This could be be a very long two years for the code if he can’t get a tune from his players – because all signs point to a complete lack of interest in being out on the stump.
It would appear that Schmidt is a placeholder. And if that World Cup fiasco left you feeling numb below the waste, it’s hard to see this short term appointment firing up your mojo.
This debut press conference was as far away from a passionate rallying cry or call to arms as you could imagine.
“I’m probably a little bit surprised that I’m here. I thought I’d retired when I went back to New Zealand but I’m very poor at doing that,” Schmidt acknowledged. “Obviously, being involved with the Blues and the All Blacks since then and I’m pretty excited. This is a really unique challenge.”
And where Jones got animated on an Australian style of rugby 12 months ago, Schmidt was non-committal to the core.
Of course, this cardie and slippers approach to his job probably thrills many readers of The Roar, suffering PTSD from Eddie’s streams of gibberish and his two wins from nine. These will be banner days for the boring and pragmatic in our midst as they get their own leader to relax with after 12 months of Eddie-mania.
Let’s hope they’re spot on. The comments on today’s news about Schmidt’s appointment are overwhelmingly positive – which makes a pleasant change to be sure. But today is not one for the dreamers – or the believers that Australia’s head coach role should be held by an Australian.
New Wallabies Head Coach Joe Schmidt speaks to media during a Rugby Australia media opportunity at Allianz Stadium on January 19, 2024 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images)
“I’m not great at selling dreams. Dreams are not tangible,” Schmidt said.
“I’m a pragmatic sort of individual probably characterised as boring, I don’t have probably the charisma that Eddie (Jones) has fired up but I’m really keen to get into clubs.
“With the Irish model, you’re competing with soccer, but the biggest games in Ireland are Gaelic football and hurling…Rugby is only the fourth sport so there are a few similarities and trying to grow the interest in the game and one of the best ways to grow the interest is is win games.
“People love to get along when they believe their team are going to be really competitive so I’ll probably be a little bit narrow, focused on trying to get to know the people, get to help them perform at their best, combine it as the best that we can as a team, because again, I just think the flagship will drive some of that interest and then interest will get kids aspiring to be part of what they see.
“That can take a while but it certainly happened in Ireland in a very competitive place for players and I think it is even more competitive here. It’s tougher, but I still think there’s a chance that we can attract enough positive attention that people will be positive about being involved in the game, supporting the game and hopefully you’re back in a team that’s really competitive.”
New Wallabies Head Coach Joe Schmidt poses during a Rugby Australia media opportunity at Allianz Stadium on January 19, 2024 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images)
Although Waugh and Schmidt did their best to dodge questions over the length of his contract – there is hope for us all.
If he loses and bores the daylights out of us, at least there’s time to change tack and whip up some fervour ahead of the home World Cup. If he wins and bores the daylights out of us all, at least we’ve got a winning team.
Eddie Jones was a megalomanic. Some would even suggest he outright lied to the Australian fan base.
He came storming back on the scene as if ready for a drunken gun fight. He said the Wallabies would win the Bledisloe Cup, and heck the World Cup too. Then proceeded to pick a nonsense squad full of flaws – inexperienced players in key roles, some injured family friends.
Schmidt comes across like Sleepy Joe to Jones’ Donald Trump. There will be nothing outlandish, no promises, and that will be of great comfort to many. Do not expect Joe Schmidt to fire up his own self serving podcast, or bait the “horse guy”.
Heck, don’t even expect him to greet a question with relish or certainty.
“I can’t say that I’ll succeed or otherwise at the moment. I’m just getting my feet under the desk and trying to get a better measure of who’s out there and what capability they have,” said Schmidt when asked why the thought he could succeed with the Wallabies.
“I’ve certainly observed a lot with Australian players obviously preparing to play against them. By getting to know the people behind the player. And if we can get the right people and they can perform on the field, I do think we can build things.
“But I do think it’s also a rebuild that will take a little bit of time and I’m probably a pragmatist. I can’t promise anything other than I’ll be working really hard to try to make it as successful as it can be and try and get some early wins on the board. And those wins may be just that we perform better, even if we don’t quite get the outcomes we’re looking for. I’m also realistic that you’re judged on your outcomes and you live or die by them.”
Perhaps it’s overstating it to say that the sport in Australia could well live or die based on the next two years. Perhaps they had no choice but to take this road.
But make no mistake, this is a massive gamble by Waugh and Rugby Australia. Fingers crossed they pull it off.
Tim J
Roar Rookie
Thank you WL, I hope that this year is a great one for you and your family… :thumbup:
kingplaymaker
Roar Guru
The NRL is vastly more powerful than in the 90s: it's scale and wealth and expansion mean that it is able to pillage far more aggressively. Plus, some league players to boost a team until its playing resources improve is fine. When they do, which would admittedly need more teams and playing opportunities, then you wouldn't need league converts.
Around the Ankles
Roar Rookie
It’s a defeatist attitude. The reality is that we were world champions when league competed for our players. The difference now is that a number of schools allow league signed and or scholarship kids to come for the final few years of school. This creates an impression that league has taken our players - tip, they haven’t, those kids were always league players. What does happen, we fail to develop our own. Hence the drift, out of the sport or overseas to Europe and Japan. Ask around, there are multiple super rugby quality teams of Australian players offshore that are not in contact with RA.
MO
Roar Rookie
I agree he failed to fix the cards and dare I say it that should’ve been doable. Rennie was a rookie test coach and I think he was getting better. He’ll be much improved in his next stint as a test coach. Hanson wasn’t great first time round and in the end he anointed foster to take over. JS is not the messiah but he’s far and away the best available
Jacko
Roar Rookie
I think we need to see disciple improving too. less cards, better coordinated defence and a purposeful attack (and no aimless kicking because they’ve run out of ideas). Yep 100% agree. I think they can beat anyone on their day but doing so consistantly is an issue. How many times in the last 10 years has 1 Bledisloe been close and 1 been a blow-out? Consistancy of performance would be great for Aus.
Jacko
Roar Rookie
So what dates did the Brumbies staff suddenly massively improve the Wallabies under Rennie? Rennies last 17 were his least successful and his first 17 tests his best % wise
ScottD
Roar Guru
DR achieved 50% in his first 17 tests and 29% in the last 17 games.
ScottD
Roar Guru
40% win/loss is a pass if the losses are close and the team plays hard gritty rugby. If they win 40% and look like they are just throwing the ball around or win by dumb luck or the bounce of the ball will (I think) be fairly harshly judged. I think we need to see disciple improving too. less cards, better coordinated defence and a purposeful attack (and no aimless kicking because they've run out of ideas).
ScottD
Roar Guru
29% win loss ratio in his last 17 tests.
ScottD
Roar Guru
Dave Rennie needs to own his own performance as coach and I question whether he was actually getting there at all. His coaching record with the Wallabies was First 17 tests : 7 wins, 7 losses 3 draws. 50% 2nd 17 tests: 5 wins, 12 losses. 29% Overall 39% Others have also made the point that in his last year he had injuries to contend with and I don't dispute that. However setting aside his results and making allowance for depth and injuries there is still one glaring feature for me and that is the one of on field discipline. He had 34 tests to fix the on field discipline issues in the team and to change the team culture to one where discipline was key and red cards would be savagely dealt with. He didn't do that and even though there were short periods where the discipline looked to have improved, ultimately it didn't improve at all under his leadership. It may be a bit simplistic to only point at disciple, but I am sure that his performance can't just be laid at the door on unfortunate injuries and squad depth either. cheers
HenryHoneyBalls
Roar Rookie
I'm not sure Id describe Schmidt as sleepy, the guy is probably the most energetic relentless coach in the game in terms of time and energy he puts into the roles he takes on. Fair enough he might be boring in terms of his interviews but to be perfectly honest I think that may well be the sort of coach that Australia needs. Eddie Jones may have been interesting in his interviews but Australia and English rugby very quickly became circuses under his tenure and both experienced massive rugby declines. There will be no distractions, he will seek to win the public over via results or not at all which is probably the more sustainable way to turn the game around.
Olly
Roar Rookie
You can not argue DR record, he lost a lot. There is every chance he could have turned it around, but unfortunately their was just as much chance that he wouldn't as teams peak for the RWC. But as this line of comments is about the Wallabies only starting to look good loosing when the Brumbies coaching team was brought in. Prior to that the Wallabies looked ordinary and constantly played out the back, miles away from the advantage line.
Kenners
Roar Rookie
Absolutely great point: Dan McKeller, Stephen Larkham and Andy Friend were all genuine contenders we were told, but they are all at crucial parts of their own coaching development. They all need probably another two years in the club scene with ideally one of them winning their respective comps (aside from Friend who has no club). In fact, I would to see Andy Friend in there somewhere as an assistant coach. He's quality, but yeah, needs some international exposure (outside of the 7s).
Kenners
Roar Rookie
Every single rugby fan in Australia would rather welcome a mute who wins on the park, then a loudmouth who wins no games (aside from two sure things against Tier 2 nations). EJ brought the game to the public sure, but in doing so made things exponentially worse for the game by bringing in new people who now instead of being impartial, actually hate the game. The Matildas won over the public not with a loudmouth know-it-all coach, but by winning. If the Wallabies win, Schmidt can rightly sit at the press conference and let the Captain say something for a nice change.
Jacko
Roar Rookie
Why? Saders side has changed completely. Not even any resemblance to the side from last season and its a pre-season game. Not expecting any side that hasnt played for 9mths to beat a team currently IN COMP mode. Are you? Geez you would need to hope your sides win. Very embarrassing if they cant beat a totally rebuilt side who hasnt played for 9 mths.
Jacko
Roar Rookie
Yeah right. Experience is just soo easy to get. Aus just has to name some assistants and they will automatically all be picked up by the NH teams. Dream on. That aint reality.
Jacko
Roar Rookie
He had to deal with covid too. That effected the SH sides way more than the NH sides.
In From The Side
Roar Rookie
Not disagreeing with that but he cost the Wallabies a lot of games with the rest of his piss poor play. For every try he scored, he let in 2 or 3 and while he was brilliant in the air, neither Foley or anyone else was good enough to take advantage of it. But all means bring in more Folau’s to rugby, that’ll help the Wallabies continue to fall further down the world rankings.
kingplaymaker
Roar Guru
They can have one or two, but not that many. In fact it's a sign of a team achieving a certain level of strength.
Brendan NH Fan
Roar Rookie
You didn't like Darcy Graham or Stuart Hogg. Easy to stick with Oz and NZ are so much better in the backs than anyone else, may have been true 20 years ago, not sure any more. The question is a back who can't defend better than a winger who is good both sides. there is a reason why Oz and NZ have seen the number of tries scored against other T1 nations dropping so not sure they are overly outstanding. The person to break the 6N try record was an Irish winger who took it off an Irish centre. Welsh have fine backs too.