In a complete shift from Eddie Jones’ bullish approach, new Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt has tempered expectations by saying he’s “not expecting miracles” and doesn’t have a “magic formula” to turn the rugby nation around overnight.
Schmidt, who was appointed as Jones’ successor last month, has yet to officially get his feet under the desk but is quietly working away in the background in New Zealand.
Having slumped to ninth on the World Rugby rankings following last year’s early World Cup exit, the former Ireland coach has been playing catch-up on the finer details of what went wrong last year with the Wallabies.
“I’ve watched a few of those [World Cup] games back with a different lens and there’s some things I think we can work on and I’d like to think we can improve,” he said on Wide World of Sports radio in Brisbane.
New Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt says assembling his coaching team is his first priority. (Photo by Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images)
Schmidt’s first priority is establishing his coaching team.
A point of constant discussion last year, Schmidt’s predecessor came under widespread criticism for bringing together an eclectic mix of assistants that ranged from AFL mentors to NRL assistants to established coaches like Neal Hatley.
Even established coaches like former Wallabies prop Dan Palmer and Frenchman Pierre-Henry Broncan were asked to run the rule over areas outside of their specialty.
Schmidt, who helped get the All Blacks back on track over the previous 18 months when he joined Ian Foster’s coaching team, said he would lean on local coaches to give him a steer of the playing ranks in Australian rugby.
“What will be a priority for me is getting a staff that will have some knowledge of the players as well – that way we can build a set of selection discussions that lead up to the right sort of people and, on the back of that, having the best player,” he said.
The 58-year-old, who led Ireland to a famous come-from-behind 2-1 series win over the Wallabies in 2018, is aiming to be at next month’s Super Round in Melbourne, with all 12 franchises to be in the same city for the second round of the competition.
The event last year gave an insight into his predecessor’s thinking, as Jones’ notes were photographed and shared across social media.
Burgeoning talents like Carter Gordon and Max Jorgensen, who were taken to the World Cup, were notable inclusions on Jones’ scrapbook.
Schmidt said he was “really open-minded” about who will feature with the Wallabies this year.
“I’d love to see some of the players putting their hands up through this Super Rugby season and really challenging themselves and challenging maybe some of the guys who have been there before to perform as well as they can,” he said.
“That high tide lifts all boats and we can profit from that by having some guys who are performing at their best when they come into camp because it’s pretty hard to pick a team up from disappointment and suddenly springboard into a Test within four or five trainings – that’s pretty much all you get before you go into a Test match.”
Joe Schmidt says he wants his players to stand up during Super Rugby to ensure they have confidence heading into the international arena . (Photo by Chris Hyde/Getty Images)
On the surface, Schmidt couldn’t ask for a better lead-up to this year’s Rugby Championship.
The Wallabies will play two matches against a rebuilding Welsh side under Warren Gatland, with a one-off Test against Georgia on the cards too.
But Schmidt was quick to point out that the Wallabies crumbled under pressure against Wales during their defining 40-6 World Cup pool defeat last year.
“I’m also realistic, I know how competitive the top of the Test match tree is,” he said.
“You get Wales first-up, who put 40 points on the Wallabies. Well, what a fantastic turnaround challenge that is.
“Looking through the lens with a different perspective, I’m just looking at the individuals and thinking about how we can keep building them forward.
“And then some of the connections I just felt didn’t quite work and try and put those together.
“But, as I said, it’s five trainings that you get before that Welsh Test.
“I’m not expecting miracles, but I definitely believe we can get a shift and we can keep that shift going in the right direction and build a competitive group.”
Their two Tests against Wales will also be an important marker ahead of next year’s Lions series, with the internationals falling exactly one year out from the extremely important series.
“Currently, we’re ranked quite well below the four teams that make up the Lions, so individually they’re ranked ahead of us and collectively you would presume they would be a stronger force,” Schmidt said.
“That’s a fantastic challenge for our men to get together and try to turn it around.”
He added: “I’d be relatively short-term focussed, but as a mid-term focus, you couldn’t get a more exciting challenge than that.”
Ken Catchpole's Other Leg
Roar Guru
Ye cs. “ A point of constant discussion last year, Schmidt’s predecessor came under widespread criticism for bringing together an eclectic mix of assistants that ranged from AFL mentors to NRL assistants ” True, but a bit like discussing blood on the floor while ignoring the holder of the knife. Jones had a motley crew of assistants because that was all that was available (and willing) so close to a Cup. It wasn’t really a style ‘choice’. It was the corner Hamish had painted us into by the late coach switch that only a few saw merit in.
Ken Catchpole's Other Leg
Roar Guru
The anti-FIFOs here may have a point though Train. If Schmidt is camped in NZ he’ll be missing out on the rich cultural vein of rugby enthusiasm on the streets of Australia.
Ken Catchpole's Other Leg
Roar Guru
Commonsense, BB? Too right! Someone should think of the children.
cs
Roar Guru
Easy to improve on Crazy Eddie's terrible standards. Any levelheaded coach could probably do that. But few tests are easy and nothing can be taken for granted. It's a long way to the top.
Muglair
Roar Rookie
I am sure there are some that the statisticians can point to. The biggest and fatal problem with the DR teams was the obsession with metres run and metres after contact. Absolutely the opposite of Ireland and continually resulting in isolated ball carriers turning the ball over or being penalised for holding the ball, and late breakdown arrivals resulting in penalties for dangerous cleanouts and entering from the side etc. Cards followed for repeated infringements and contact above the head. I did not agree with the EJ appointment or the way it was done. From a rugby perspective I did not think either was going to get better results than the other. My big question mark on DR was whether he would change tactics, but it has been the core of his strategies since the Chiefs. Overall that was the issue that swayed me that we might go better under EJ and if nothing else, the breakdown was nowhere near the problem it was in 2020-22. Eddie did not get results at all, but the pretence that all was well is about as valid as the wild claims he made about what he would achieve. The other big area I am waiting to see is any improvement in the performance of Wallaby players in SR. EJ claimed that the Australian players generally don't know what it takes to be competitive at test level, from both a physical and mental approach. This is something often criticised by Roarers, and also referred to by the players pre 2023 RWC. It will be interesting to see how many players step up to consistently stand out in their position during the season, especially against the NZ teams. Anyone got any commentary on how DR's team is going in Japan?
Busted Fullback
Roar Rookie
I’m not suggesting that mine should be included, but when you wipe away the bs, there are plenty of considered suggestions from Roarers that good coaches could easily take and add to their arsenal.
Busted Fullback
Roar Rookie
The Hunter becomes the Hunted? :laughing: :laughing: :laughing: (Mine worked!)
Hunters
Roar Rookie
The emoji didn’t work. 10 in the bin for me. Here goes :laughing:
Hunters
Roar Rookie
The list is getting long. Joe doesn’t need to go looking for asst coaches. They’re all here.????
Hunters
Roar Rookie
Sounds like you think this we’ll be easy
KiwiHaydn
Roar Rookie
Exactly what were the improvements that Eddie made?
Muglair
Roar Rookie
We certainly should expect better. Eddie made some improvements though, and brought new players through. DR was not the coaching answer either, never was. Schmidt and his team will be superior to both. Wales will be touring with quite a few new faces with a lot of experience lost. That 40 point margin was possibly a one-off and certainly not a benchmark for 2024. A close loss might represent slow progress in the right direction but only a win will be a real turnaround. Mind you we will know at the end of the SR season which direction we might be heading.
Busted Fullback
Roar Rookie
And now Scotland has had a win in Cardiff. It’s going to be an interesting 4-6 months no matter where you live or who you support.
Noodles
Roar Rookie
Bingo over here mate. ????
In From The Side
Roar Rookie
The trouble is, he actually has to teach those skills to so many of the players at the high levels here.
In From The Side
Roar Rookie
So nice to hear a coach talk without all the BS and bluff that we heard for 9 months last year. I like that he seems to be looking at form and challenging players to step up and that he’s looking at rugby assistants who know the game rather than some mungo who doesn’t.
Brendan NH Fan
Roar Rookie
True but we are talking about Wales, currently at best 7th in the World but more likely 8th. Being happy with one win at home either means Eddie did the best he could or JS isn't expecting to improve much at the start.
RD
Roar Rookie
Personally I would like to see someone recently retired from the game taking over the forwards role like Paul O Connell has done at the Irish, Donna at La Rochelle. In my opinion there are only 2 guys who fit this bill. One being Alun Wyn Jones and the other being Victor Matfield. Australian coaching in the forwards, set piece and breakdown have been horrendous. The Australian way of yesteryear of winning parity in the forwards and letting the backs do the razzle dazzle are over. In the modern game you have to win the collisions and the breakdown to have any chance and Australian coaches have been inept right across the board. So we need serious overseas expertise in these areas.
Just Nuisance
Roar Rookie
Unfortunately in the modern world you sometimes also need some spin..So yes actions but they dont necessarily speak louder ..And you are a bit wrong ..Rennie would not probably have done better ..He 100% would have .
Leroy14
Roar Rookie
Fischer and Wisemantel must targets.