1
‘I thought I’d retired’: Why Joe Schmidt embraced ‘unique’ Wallabies ‘challenge’
New Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt couldn’t guarantee “that I’ll succeed” in the role after making a surprising admission about his career back in New Zealand.
ADVERTISEMENT
Schmidt, 58, rose to international coaching stardom during a glistening six-year stint with Ireland which included landmark victories over New Zealand and South Africa, as well as a few Six Nations crowns.
Ireland emerged as the world’s best team during Schmidt’s reign, but luck wasn’t on their side at the 2019 World Cup. The Irish bowed out in the quarters – again – and their coach left soon after.
Having returned home to the nation of his birth, New Zealand, and before he landed a role with the All Blacks, Schmidt “thought I’d retired.”
But after helping New Zealand reach the World Cup final last year, Schmidt was today (January 19) officially unveiled as the Wallabies’ newest head coach at Sydney’s Allianz Stadium.
Schmidt revealed that Rugby Australia’s incoming director of high performance, Peter Horne, and advisor David Nucifora played a part in the new Wallabies coach deciding to embrace the “unique challenge.”
“With those guys in those place I thought it was a good opportunity to try and pitch in and get Australia up and running because I do think the World Cup was not an Australian team that I recognised,” Schmidt told reporters in Sydney on Friday.
ADVERTISEMENT
“There’s this period of time now to work out how and what’s next, but that’s when it first came on my radar.
“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, obviously being involved with the Blues and the All Blacks since then.
“I’m pretty excited. This is a really unique challenge.”
Schmidt is the Wallabies’ third head coach in as many years. Dave Rennie and Eddie Jones were first and second, but the hiring of Schmidt is undoubtedly Rugby Australia’s biggest coup.
Following the previously mentioned stint with Ireland, and the All Blacks as well, Schmidt has only signed a short-term deal with Rugby Australia.
ADVERTISEMENT
Schmidt is contracted through to the end of next year’s British and Irish Lions Tour which finishes in early August. From there, Rugby Australia and Schmidt may reassess but there is still plenty of uncertainty about the Wallabies’ future.
“It’s pretty much public knowledge that I have a young man at home who suffers quite badly with epilepsy and this job will take me away from the time I’d sort of committed to pitching in and helping him out,” Schmidt explained.
“If we can get the job done over the next 18 months and we can get the momentum heading in the right direction, I’ll feel like I’ve done my part of it and I’ll be happy to hand on or if there are some Australian coaches who come through, I’ll be really keen to help get some of the Australian coaches a little bit more experienced as well.
“It’s certainly not a hit-and-run,” Schmidt added. “I think for both RA and myself, it just is a good fit at that time.
“If you were going to make a change before the World Cup, you don’t want to do it a year out. You want to make sure you’ve got a decent run at it.
“If we get to the end of the British and Irish Lions series and things are going in the right direction… (if) the best thing is for me to stay then that’s a bridge we’ll cross then.”
With the Wallabies bowing out of the 2023 World Cup before the quarter-finals – a record low for the team – the opportunity to start anew and build awaits Australian rugby.
Success might not come right away, but as Schmidt explained, it’s essential the Wallabies return to the heights that made the team such a formidable force 20 years ago.
“I’m desperate for the Wallabies to be competitive, and if I can help, that’s why I’m here.
“I think the global rugby family is desperate for the Wallabies to be where they need to be. British and Irish Lions, they want to have a fantastic series so we want to build toward that and give them exactly what they want and not make anything easy for them.
“Two years after that you’ve got a home World Cup.
“I’m desperate that the Wallabies are really competitive in that World Cup and we get through to those really competitive playoff rounds.”
Comments on RugbyPass
A Turtle has more pace and leg drive than Owen Franks, so it’s a good thing he only had to run 90 metres for that try.
2 Go to commentsOh Tamati Tua was in the vastly over-rated Leon MacDonalds Blues system? Well, no wonder he was wasted, much like Emoni Narawa and Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens under MacDonald. now look at them. Good thing Tua isn’t eligible, the Aussies latch on to any player who isn’t tied down.
2 Go to commentsMark Telea is a lot of things, but a defensive juggernaut has never been one of them. There will be far bigger tests in that regard for the youngster.
10 Go to commentsLove and respect to Fiji but not a chance outside of 7s
4 Go to commentsGood summation Ned. Agree the Canes were out-muscled for once (except at the scrum!) by a focused Brumbies outfit. Tua deserves consideration for higher honors after the way he humbled Jordie and the Canes defense. Thankfully, his lack of eligibility for Oz keeps him from Joe’s plans. While I also agree the injuries affected the Canes performance, some players seemed to lack focus and intensity for this match. Perhaps after the Blues demolished the Brumbies, they thought it was going to be easy? A good reminder that any slip up in preparation can have a big affect on the result. Brumbies deserved that win.
2 Go to commentsKarl Dixon should never have been appointed this fixture, absolute disgrace, He’s not much of a referee anyway, didn't have the balls to send his mate care off
5 Go to commentsBrilliant article! Harry of 8/9
1 Go to comments‘UK athletes' have been in the NFL from the start.
1 Go to commentsIt’s going to be Scott Barrett. He’s the coaches mate and captain of a previously elite team. Ardie a great option but scooter has worked with the coach and Ardie still as big a leader as needed.
23 Go to commentsI commend Colin Scotts bio All Balls. He was the first Aussie to make it to NFL. But he was poached and did a full apprenticeship at the University of Hawaii. He was 130kgs surfed played 1st grade cricket etc. big guy by normal but not NFL standards and a top athlete. Even then the nfl were picking up Tongans and Samoans for their natural size and explosive power. They want explosive power not cardio from the big boys so a guy like Taniela Tupou would have been good if picked up young enough. He has fast twitch and they’d bulk the little lad up and give him something to do. soccer teams set up academies and look for Over Sara’s talent eg Messi was at Barcelona since a teenager and harry kewell went to Leeds as a teenager like 16 or something.
11 Go to commentsThe article alludes to the fact that this isn’t about picking a captain. But picking a great captain. So who would make for a great All Black captain - not just an obvious or safe shoo-in? I’m not sure Ardie’s the guy and Barret doesn’t stand out either.
23 Go to commentsI guess we may all agree on the fact, that the ABs and Boks are the two in contest for No 1 in rugby history (the triple-A sort of) …. the Wallabies, England and France are the next tier, with Ireland being the new kid in town (AA) …. in my view it makes little sense creating imaginary competitions (unless you have too much time to waste)
45 Go to commentsWhat a joke. Total joke and the pundits commentating, all of whom know a bit about the game, could barely disguise their contempt. Reaching for the card then pulling back when he realised a red card would carry further match suspensions is simply not his decision to make. A clear and obvious influence on the outcome of this match and indeed, the championship path.
5 Go to commentsI like the idea, in NZ the Ranfurly Shield and NPC coexist, both having their own bragging rights. The World Cup would be the pinnacle, but the competition and travels of these trophies would be interesting.
45 Go to commentsDon’t worry Sonny bill Williams leave that awkward situation about the curfew in the pass whoever it was it doesn’t matter its no big deal we back our All Blacks through the storm and the thunder until we see the Sun light again.
42 Go to commentsWho listens to this retard? He was a massive liability as a player but obviously a media sensation
42 Go to commentsI’m not surprised by such ‘virtue signalling’ by Sonny Boy. Butter wouldn’t melt in his mouth. He’s such a pious Islamic muppet, imo.
42 Go to commentsI’ve actually never heard of the guy (then I don’t watch League as it is boring). But if he is good enough.. then good luck to him. If not, well, he can always return to league.
2 Go to commentsIt is pretty clear that by almost any measure that NZ are a more successful rugby nation than South Africa. Quite aside from the distasteful events during the last RWC final. NZ lead SA in all significant measurements.
45 Go to commentsDickson went to his pocket for a card, saw who it was, changed his mind and spoke at length to TMO. One angle clearly shows Care diving over a Saints player to kill the ball. 1st yellow, reason given for not Red was player was falling backwards. He was only falling backwards after contact with Lawes. Graham try should have stood. Mitchell did not have both hands on the ball, ball went forward from a Saints boot dragging over it. 2 intentional knock-on's. One of which had an overlap on the outside. If Quins are happy to win by intentional foul play, then it does not say much for them. Would appear to be a bad day for Karl Dickson, also for the RFU in appointing a Ref who spent 8 years as a player at one of the clubs.
5 Go to comments