Joe Schmidt has been good for the Wallabies and Rugby Australia could not have chosen a better coach to clean up the almighty mess left by Eddie Jones.
The Wallabies had a bumpy 2024 season but finished the campaign on a good note on the end of season tour highlighted by defeating England and pushing Ireland all the way. Schmidt had us competing again.
Coming into this Lions series, to pull off the upset of all upsets, Brisbane was key to strike first before the Lions got into beast mode.
However, the Wallabies were so underdone, they were never at the races. Why was this allowed to happen? How could they be so far off the pace in the first half?
One Test match against Fiji was clearly not enough preparation. Schmidt should have requested and pushed very hard for a second Test match rather than training in camp. It was alarming to read that the Wallabies got four days off after the Fiji game. It was men against boys at Suncorp in the first half. The scoreline flattered the Wallabies. Yes, they came back, but it was over after 42 minutes.
What was also alarming was some of Schmidt’s selections and omissions. He knows the Irish players in the Lions contingent as well as anyone and knew the kitchen sink was coming. Abrasive and physical players such as Brandon Paenga-Amosa, Taniela Tupou, (even for a half ) and Lukhan Salakaia-Loto were needed to take on the storm that hit Suncorp Stadium.
Will Skelton of Australia during the second test match between Australia and the British & Irish Lions at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo By Brendan Moran/Sportsfile via Getty Images)
Will Skelton declared he was fit and ready to go for Brisbane but was left out to allow more recovery time for Melbourne, a big mistake. Even at 90-95% his impact would have been felt along with the aforementioned players.
When you throw in Angus Bell starting along with Tom Hooper, that pack has plenty of starch to go toe to toe with the Lions. Given Bobby V was running on one leg, we needed all these guys to start.
James O’Connor should have been in the matchday 23 for both games, given his vast experience and ability to cover 2 or 3 positions.
Australia head coach Joe Schmidt before the second Test match between Australia and the British & Irish Lions at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo By Brendan Moran/Sportsfile via Getty Images)
Corey Toole would have been a brave and bold selection to bring much-needed X Factor off the bench against tiring defences. Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii probably could have been moved out one for the second Test. I think Schmidt missed the mark on a number of selections which really surprised me.
The other disappointing aspect of the team so far in the series has been the defence, which was too passive in Brisbane and only slightly better in Melbourne. All five of the Lions’ tries were scored from close range. We didn’t have the stamina or physicality to stop any of them, just one stop, and we have a decider in Sydney. In a country that has defensive gurus aplenty in the NRL, surely we can find a better defensive solution than Laurie Fisher.
There is no doubt the Wallabies should have gone on and won in Melbourne. The effort and ticker were there in spades, but sadly, when the heavy artillery went off, all momentum was lost.
Schmidt needs to own some poor selections / omissions and not use the “no penalty “ to gloss over this.
He is a very good coach with a proven track record of success at all levels. However, in this serie,s he has been average Joe.
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