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Joe Schmidt will succeed Eddie Jones as next Wallabies coach - report

Paris , France - 14 October 2023; New Zealand assistant coach Joe Schmidt before the 2023 Rugby World Cup quarter-final match between Ireland and New Zealand at the Stade de France in Paris, France. (Photo By Brendan Moran/Sportsfile via Getty Images)

Former Ireland coach Joe Schmidt is expected to be named as Eddie Jones’ successor at the helm of the Wallabies, with an official announcement to come in the next few days.

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According to a report in the Sydney Morning Herald, Schmidt is the favoured option for Rugby Australia following a disastrous year and 2023 Rugby World Cup that saw them head home before the knock-out stages for the first time ever.

It was capped off by Jones resigning in October, despite having initially signed a five-year deal.

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Brad Shields on potential All Blacks call up now that he’s back in NZ

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Brad Shields on potential All Blacks call up now that he’s back in NZ

In contrast, Schmidt was part of the All Blacks coaching staff that took them to the final.

The deal is reportedly all but done, with just paperwork needing to be finalised.

Schmidt had a successful run with Ireland from 2013 to 2019 that saw them beat the All Blacks twice, win the Six Nations three times and reach number one in the world for the first time ever.

While Australians Michael Cheika and Dan McKellar had also been linked with the job, 58-year-old New Zealander Schmidt looks set to be the man entrusted by Rugby Australia to drive things forward in the lead up to them hosting the next Rugby World Cup in 2027.

Expressions of interest for the Wallabies coaching role closed last Friday, and it’s believed that with former Ireland director of rugby David Nucifora now a prominent figure in Rugby Australia, Schmidt was always going to be the front runner.

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5 Comments
F
Forward pass 431 days ago

It depends what he is appointed for whether this is a success or not. If he is appointed to be part of the catalysist for change in RAs systems I see that working but why only a 2 year contract if thats the aim?
If he is appointed purely to get the same cattle to play better then he wont be a success beyond about 45-50% wins and will be blamed for all Australia’s rugby ills.

K
Kara 432 days ago

There won’t be any Jones’ type games and I anticipate the Wallabies will be very competitive almost immediately. Could easily have been WRC semi-finalists had McLennan stayed in his box and let Rennie fulfill his contract.

C
Cheers 432 days ago

Joe is a great coach but Aussie’s don’t like being told what to do especially from a Kiwi.
Should be an interesting watch. They will improve in the short run but the players will resort back to bad habits

W
Willie 432 days ago

Wonderful news John! 🤬

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RedWarriors 5 hours ago
'Matches between Les Bleus and the All Blacks are rarely for the faint-hearted.'

I am not really sure how this tour benefits France beyond showing NZ ways to beat them. They already know how to beat NZ.

Ireland won a series there in 2022 which prompted a year long shift in strategy to specifically beat Ireland. This was confirmed recently by Will Jordan.

Winning tight matches isn’t necessarily about psychology. It’s about having weapons to get over the line. For SA that was a scrum to win penalties and a kicker to either kick the penalty over or down the line if a try is needed. See SA v England in 2023 SF.

England used their jacklers to win penalties to get them deep into the 22 a couple of times late against France. Ireland improvised with drop kicks to win versus SA.

NZ spent decades fretting over choking in RWCs. Their strategy was often to develop such an outstanding team that pressure wouldn’t come into it. All they needed to do (France 99, 07) was to use some of their prep to learn how to neuter their opponents.

NZ have learned that lesson well and it should have gotten them a RWC win in ‘23 after knocking Ireland out. They will do the same against France or attempt to.

It doesn’t matter with SA v NZ because those teams are set up to beat/not lose against each other.

I don’t see NZ whipping the French second string and there is no benefit in showing NZ their hand.

I don’t agree with the image of International Rugby or respect comment. International Rugby should put all their focus on expanding the game (Tier 2) which was the supposed purpose of a RWC not as a status symbol for Tier1As.

No offense to Marshall and NZ, but if they demand respect they should give some too. Ireland certainly were not respected after their 22 series win and France won’t be either.

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