It was the win that Australian rugby desperately needed. It didn’t matter how it came, just that it finally did. More than 35,000 fans arrived at Allianz Stadium ready to communally exorcise the memories of France and after Saturday’s 25-16 victory over Wales, the Wallabies under new coach Joe Schmidt can hopefully stride into a new era.

Since he was appointed as coach of the Wallabies, Schmidt has been at pains to under-promise and over-deliver. The New Zealander has consistently referenced his lack of preparation with his team, but he still delivered an essential victory when it mattered, regardless of some minor bumps on the road. Here are the five things that we learned against Wales.

Schmidt was back in the head coach’s chair for the first time in five years since he led Ireland and cut a relieved figure in the press conference after the game. Asked if he had missed the top job, he replied with a smile, “I haven’t really, it was stressful out there today”.

The coach’s blood pressure will not have been helped by some distinctly poor discipline from the Wallabies throughout the game, conceding 13 penalties to Wales’ 11. It was not what is expected from a Schmidt-coached team.

Asked specifically about his side’s discipline, Schmidt admitted that he wasn’t pleased about his side conceding a penalty try that led to Fraser........

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