Joe Schmidt’s emotional return to Ireland might have fallen flat, but in less than 12 months the New Zealander has brought back respect to the Wallabies – and now Rugby Australia must do everything they can to secure his service long-term.
Indeed, just 14 months after the Wallabies were embarrassed in Lyon by copping the biggest thrashing in its 40-year history across ten World Cups by Wales, the Wallabies pushed Ireland to just three points to finish their Grand Slam tour.
Irish captain Caelan Doris breathed a sigh of “relief” at their 22-19 late escape, while Andy Farrell, Schmidt’s assistant for four years, was ecstatic his side found a way to win after being down 13-5 at half-time.
“It was never in doubt, was it?” Farrell quipped, who will lead the Lions Down Under next June for the nine-match series. “It was a proper Test match, and fair play to Australia.
“There was some nice rugby played at times but too many mistakes from our side of things, Australia had a lot to do with that obviously, but I thought it was a physical match and another that went down to the wire.
“To come back from eight points behind to win that game was fitting for us, and we didn’t spoil the occasion.”
While Farrell would have known what was coming after working so closely with Schmidt, few others would have tipped the Wallabies to run Ireland so close.
The bookmakers had the Wallabies as 14-point outsiders.
Ultimately, it came down to the last play of the game with Ireland’s breakdown pressure proving a thorn in the backside for the Wallabies in their desire to get the ball to the edge like they did three weeks earlier against England.
Ireland came from behind to beat the Wallabies 22-19 at Aviva Stadium in Dublin. (Photo By Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfile via Getty Images)
Nonetheless, over the course of one more the Wallabies made a statement that they won’t roll over by the time the Lions arrive Down Under in late June as they finished the year with six wins from 13 Tests.
Given the progress of the Wallabies under Schmidt in five months, you wouldn’t rule out the strong possibility of running the Lions until the end of the series next August.
After all, history favours the host nation against the Lions.
Regardless of whether the Wallabies win or lose against the Lions though, RA chief executive Phil Waugh must quickly turn his attention to securing Schmidt through to the 2027 World Cup.
Schmidt might never be able to deliver a sales pitch like Eddie Jones or Michael Cheika, but the New Zealander, who characterised himself as “boring” at his maiden press conference as Wallabies coach, values actions over words.
Securing the understated New Zealander beyond next year’s Lions series won’t be easy though.
As The Roar revealed in late October, Schmidt is more likely than not to go following the historic series because his son has a health condition that requires constant care. It’s why the 59-year-old only ever signed a deal through to next year’s Lions series.
But Schmidt also stated that his main reason for taking over from Eddie Jones was because the rugby world was desperate to see the Wallabies return as a force on the international stage.
“I’m desperate for the Wallabies to be competitive, and that’s why I’m here,” Schmidt said.
“I think the global rugby family is desperate for the Wallabies to be where they need to be.
“The British and Irish Lions want to have a fantastic series, so we want to build toward that and give them what they want and not make anything easy for them. And two years after that you’ve got a home World Cup, and I’m desperate that the Wallabies are competitive in that World Cup and we get through to those really competitive playoff rounds.”
Andy Farrell farewells his former head coach Joe Schmidt ahead of Ireland’s home clash against the Wallabies at Aviva Stadium. (Photo By Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfile via Getty Images)
Schmidt, too, can see the progress.
At his final team announcement of the year the former Ireland coach and All Blacks assistant, who helped transform the three-time world champions after jumping on Ian Foster’s coaching ticket in 2022, acknowledged the Wallabies were “paddling” hard and “keeping our head” above water.
Two days later, he admitted the progress was clear.
“They demonstrated a level of grit that you need if you’re going to be competitive with the Lions and Ireland, the No.2 team in the world, and we made them work pretty hard,” said Schmidt.
“We’d love to have got the W ourselves, but from where we started at the end of last November, to where we are now, there’s more confidence in what we’re delivering.”
That’s crystal clear from the improved defensive effort, the rock solid set-piece, detail in attack and never-say-die attitude that Schmidt and his assistants, including Laurie Fisher, have helped foster in the Wallabies.
Promisingly, too, Schmidt won’t head into 2025 not knowing what his team will look like after investing in several players, including Matt Faessler, Jeremy Williams, Harry Wilson, Noah Lolesio and Tom Wright.
They might not be the finished products but they’ve at least given Schmidt a core of players to build the rest of the team around.
With Rob Valetini, Fraser McReight and Len Ikitau emerging as world class players too, Schmidt has a side to work with.
Given the New Zealander is mulling his future, the progress on the field and stability emerging off it could be the factors that tip the scales to staying if he’s sitting on the fence.
Now, Waugh must get creative in ensuring Schmidt, whose relentless pursuit of excellence has been desperately missing in Australian rugby for years, doesn’t leave halfway through the World Cup cycle.