The difference in where the Wallabies are now and where they were this time last year is enormous. On and off the field. After emerging from the wreckage of the 2023 Rugby World Cup, the Wallabies under Joe Schmidt have not only re-found their feet as an international side, but are now seen as having the ability to challenge the British and Irish Lions next year.

So what have we learnt in a 2024 season that has had its fair share of ups and downs, but finished with Wallabies fans feeling hopeful and optimistic about the future?

It goes without saying, right? But it’s worth reflecting on just how deep a hole the Wallabies were in when Schmidt arrived, and how recent that arrival actually was, in a coaching sense.

Schmidt had his first session with the Wallabies on June 23 – that’s just 161 days ago – and he said recently he found the players down on resilience and confidence. Week-by-week, the Schmidt fundamentals have become more and more visible – clinical breakdown work, for example – and with them came an ever-strengthening belief and confidence, in the coach and each other. It’s the sort of re-build that would usually take two years. Schmidt has done it a bit over five months.

Joe Schmidt has been outstanding for the Wallabies this year.Credit: Getty

Given what he might achieve in four years, then, Rugby Australia will be looking at any avenue possible for Schmidt to balance his work-life situation and stay beyond the Lions series. A meeting is scheduled in mid-December.

Arguably the player who has most grown in confidence in 2024 is five-eighth Noah Lolesio, who finally ended the debate about who should be the first-choice No.10 for the Wallabies. The 24-year-old has been the subject of intense scrutiny in his Wallabies career, receiving criticism for inconsistency. But he was also in and out the Wallabies side, having been dropped and recalled several times by Dave Rennie since 2020.

Noah Lolesio barking orders to his teammates.Credit: Getty Images

This year, Schmidt backed Lolesio and stuck with him. The Brumby only missed one Test in the Rugby Championship and spring tour (the record defeat against Argentina, due to a back injury), and it came after Stephen Larkham did the same thing at the Brumbies.

Lolesio appeared to grow in stature with each week, and took on the assertive game-controller role that Rennie always wanted from him. His goalkicking was crucial, too – he only missed five shots of........

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