The New Zealand technician, who successfully played for Leinster then the Clover XV, will meet his former team this Saturday with the Wallabies who want to confirm their progress.
Rebuilding after the Eddie Jones fiasco. Australia's new coach, Joe Schmidt, admits it himself: he is fighting hard to put the Wallabies back on the right path as he returns to Dublin on Saturday (4:10 p.m.) to face Ireland, with whom he won three Six Nations Tournaments (2014, 2015 and Grand Slam in 2018). Born in New Zealand, Schmidt worked in Ireland for a decade, but he is now trying to build a competitive Australian team, after the failure of the 2023 World Cup (elimination in the group stage, a first), to face the British Lions and Irish next summer. But the task is arduous.
“I feel like I'm paddling hard, I'm not necessarily moving forward, but I think we're managing to keep our heads above water”declared Schmidt, well known in France for having spent time at ASM Clermont Auvergne as assistant to Vern Cotter. “We showed we could be competitive against some very high-level teams, but we lost ground in several second halves, that’s what’s frustrating.”
We're not necessarily crushing it, but we're managing to keep our heads above water
Joe Schmidt
“We are trying to work on 80-minute performances and gain squad depth so that in the event of a small disruption like last week, we can still stay out of the water”he added, referring to the 27-13 defeat against Scotland at Murrayfield last Sunday. “So yeah, we're not necessarily crushing it, but we're managing to keep our heads above water. I think we were pretty confident in the progress we were making, but sometimes when it's not reflected on the scoreboard, there's always a bit of frustration.”he added.
Australia beat England and Wales in the opening matches of their November tour. But after last week's setback, a big challenge awaits the Wallabies against a powerful Ireland team, which Schmidt had helped climb to first place in the world rankings. “There will be apprehension, because I feel it every week”said a cheerful Schmidt at the idea of returning to Dublin.
The Lions victorious in Australia in 2013
“But I even feel (apprehension) before training, hoping that we don't hurt anyone or that the boys gain confidence and find their rhythm. I try to be quite pragmatic on match day, but there will be emotion for me, that’s for sure.” Schmidt had a year of mixed results with three wins in his first outings (Wales twice and Georgia), but then lost five of his six Tests in the Rugby Championship, finishing in last place.
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Saturday's match in Dublin will be the 13th of the year for the Australians, with a record of 6 wins and 6 losses. But the emphasis is clearly placed on the upcoming tour of the Lions, coached by Andy Farrell, successor to Joe Schmidt at the head of the Clover XV. During the last Lions tour in 2013, Robbie Deans' Wallabies lost 2-1 during the test series against the selection coached by Warren Gatland (21-23 in Brisbane, 16-15 in Melbourne and 16- 41 in Sydney).
