Officially, Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt has been in the job for six months, although he started his planning long before he walked into Rugby Australia’s office for his first day on March 1.
After agreeing to take the job, Schmidt’s rationale was simple. “I’m desperate for the Wallabies to be competitive and, if I can help, that’s why I’m here,” he said. It sounded simple, but after the wreckage of Eddie Jones’ tenure, it was just what RA wanted to hear.
Schmidt was arguably taking on the biggest coaching challenge in world rugby. After nine Tests in charge for four wins, he has at least brought a competitive edge to the side, but there remains significant room for improvement.
After Saturday’s 20-point defeat in Wellington to the All Blacks rounded out the 2024 Rugby Championship, and with a daunting November tour to the United Kingdom and Ireland on the horizon, what have we learned of Schmidt’s tenure so far?
Schmidt’s decision to give Hamish Stewart a start at inside centre against Argentina in La Plata made the Western Force player the 15th Wallabies debutant of the season – the most since 1962.
The newcomers have varied in terms of success, but Schmidt will be pleased with how comfortable most have looked in the Wallabies jersey and, consequently, the increased competition for places across the squad.
Western Force wing Dylan Pietsch debuted off the bench in Schmidt’s first Test against Wales in July and on Saturday in Wellington looked every inch the Test footballer.
At the start of the year, Isaac Kailea’s main goal was to secure regular minutes for the Rebels. By the........