Outgoing Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt admits he’s “disappointed” to have to call time on his tenure with Rugby Australia, but the New Zealander said he had to “commit to finishing up” after less than two years in the role.
After months of conjecture and speculation that Schmidt would finish up as Wallabies head coach in 2025, the 58-year-old announced earlier this month that he would indeed call time following this year’s Rugby Championship campaign.
The news didn’t come so much as a shock but was a sorry blow for the Wallabies, who took big strides under his mentorship after being unveiled as Eddie Jones’ successor in January, 2024.
Indeed, a tick over 12 months earlier Schmidt had said his short-term deal with RA came down to needing to constantly take stock of his family’s unique situation, with one of his children suffering severe epilepsy.
“If we can get the job done over the next 18 months and get the momentum heading in the right direction then I will feel like I’ve done my part of it and I’ll be happy to hand on,” Schmidt said at his first press conference as Wallabies coach.
Joe Schmidt has spoken for the first time since deciding to call time on his coaching tenure with the Wallabies. (Photo by David Davies/PA Images via Getty Images)
Never one to crave the limelight, Schmidt chose not to hold a press conference following the recent announcement.
The decision spoke to his desire to simply coach, but he also made the decision to turn down media requests so RA could get their ducks in a row and firm up his successor.
Speaking to RA’s host broadcaster Stan Sport on the opening evening of the 2025 Super Rugby Pacific season, Schmidt revealed part of his decision to extend his role with the Wallabies by three months was to ensure the next head coach wasn’t thrown in the deep end by confronting the world champion Springboks in South Africa mere days after the third Lions Test in Sydney on August 2.
“I’ve got to say the first thing is I’ve loved it and loved the opportunity and it’s been a privilege,” Schmidt told Stan’s Morgan Turinui. “It’s been a whirlwind but it’s been a heck of a lot of fun.
“It’s disappointing for me, but I also know that it’s something that I need to commit to finishing up.
“I also know that to finish up after the Lions, six days later you’re flying to Jo’burg to play the South Africans – I don’t think that’s the best time to have a transition, so at the end of the TRC is probably a good compromise.
“I’m looking forward to seeing the boys go against the Lions and working with them again.”
Joe Schmidt says the Wallabies’ difficult start to their Rugby Championship campaign played a part in deciding to stay on for three months. (Photo by Hagen Hopkins/Getty Images)
Several candidates have been thrown up to takeover, including Queensland’s Les Kiss and first-year Waratahs coach Dan McKellar, who enjoyed a nail-biting, first-up win in Sydney over the Highlanders on Friday.
Irish great Ronan O’Gara has also thrown his hat in the ring, while reigning Super Rugby-winning coach Vern Cotter, who previously coached Scotland and Fiji, are also potential options.
Former Wallabies coach Michael Cheika, who will soon finish up at Leicester after one season, is well qualified for the role but isn’t likely to be sought after.
Adding to the importance of the successful candidate is that they will be tasked with guiding the Wallabies through to the home 2027 World Cup – the most important rugby tournament in Australian rugby’s history.
Although there were calls for the Lions to forget the Wallabies and play the Springboks instead this year, the two-time world champions quickly regained the globe’s attention when they stunned England at Twickenham last November.
Despite many believing the Wallabies stood a chance against the Lions, the former Irish coach said his side faced an enormous challenge but he was happy to see some progress.
“I’m nervous about what we’re going to see because I know how good they are, I know a lot of the players personally and coached a lot of the Lions guys who are going to turn up, so I know their quality and depth,” the former Six Nations winning coach, who led Ireland to number one on World Rugby’s rankings in 2018.
“But I’m starting to learn a lot more about our guys, our quality is starting to come to the surface, and I’m hoping that we can still see some depth emerge through Super Rugby this season.”
Siosifa Amone’s two late tries helped the Waratahs claim a first-up win over the Highlanders. (Photo by Darrian Traynor/Getty Images)
Asked what behaviours he was hoping to see from his players this season, Schmidt said it was the little detail that played a big part in overall success.
“There’s a long list, but a priority for us is making sure they’re back in the game, they’re on their feet and seeing things early and moving early and getting to where the teams needs them to be,” he said.
“Some of those are repeatable behaviours when they look after the ball or look after each other at the breakdown, some of the skill factors – the quality of their passing game, their ability to find space in their kicking game and the quality of the catching.
“I leave the set-piece for Geoff Parling and Mike Cron to look closer at, but obviously that’s going to be a massive thing coming into the Lions.”
