Australia’s departing Joe Schmidt outlines areas of improvement for Wallabies
Sign up now: Get the biggest sports news in your inbox
Rugby Union - Autumn Internationals - France v Australia - Stade de France, Saint-Denis, France - November 22, 2025 Australia head coach Joe Schmidt before the match REUTERS/Gonzalo Fuentes
Australia's outgoing coach Joe Schmidt sharing a smile with Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii after the 57-10 Nations Championship win over Italy at Perth Rectangular Stadium on July 18, 2026.
PHOTO: AFP
PERTH – Departing Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt says Australia need to continue building self-belief and develop depth after his tenure ended with a morale-boosting victory over Italy on July 18.
The Wallabies snapped a six-match losing streak and tasted a first victory in the Nations Championship after overpowering their depleted opponents 57-10 in front of more than 19,000 fans at Perth Rectangular Stadium.
Schmidt will now hand over to Les Kiss, ending an underwhelming stint where he won 12 of his 31 Tests in charge, after assuming control from Eddie Jones. Kiss will have 15 months to prepare the Wallabies for the World Cup, which kicks off in October 2027.
After costly fade-outs against Ireland and France, the Wallabies unfurled a dynamic performance and scored nine tries to two.
Lock Josh Canham tallied a hat-trick of tries with Tom Wright, Brandon Paenga-Amosa, Angus Bell, Len Ikitau, Billy Pollard and Ben Donaldson also crossing the line for Australia. Italy’s five-pointers came via Michele Lamaro and Montanna Ioane.
“I just feel like it’s a culmination of a bit of frustration that we didn’t finish the last two weeks off,” Schmidt, 60, said.
“They’ve actually put some really good patches of play together and there was a real conviction from the players.
“I thought we had a real steel about us today. I’m just relieved... and retired really.”
Having arrived to much fanfare in early 2024, the results were ultimately disappointing for the New Zealander.
Victory over Italy did ensure he avoided the ignominy of finishing with the worst winning percentage of any Wallabies coach in the professional era.
“I felt we lacked a bit of belief in the second-halves,” Schmidt said.
“In some ways, we were beating ourselves just by being loose or not going out and playing the second half in the same manner that we started the game.”
Schmidt has received praise during his tenure for giving younger players opportunities, including Canham, 25.
“I think it’s fundamental for us to build the depth because we’ve got to be strong enough to be able to sustain the odd loss of player,” he said.
Schmidt will remain briefly with Rugby Australia, as part of the Australia A coaching staff, but remained coy over his longer-term plans.
“I’ve massively enjoyed the group,” Schmidt said.
“I think they’re a great group of young men and there are some very good footy players amongst them.”
In other Rugby Championship Tests on July 18, New Zealand and South Africa remain the only teams with perfect records, beating Ireland 40-21 and Wales 43-0 respectively.
Meanwhile, Northern Hemisphere pool leaders France saw off Japan 42-15, while Scotland fought off Fiji 33-17 and England overcame Argentina 31-24. AFP, REUTERS
