Joe Schmidt’s Australian tenure is underway.
Australia have beaten Wales 25-16 in Sydney to extend Warren Gatland‘s side’s losing streak to eight and export some of their misery in the process.
Welsh Rugby is in a grim place nowadays, but Australia haven’t had it so easy in recent times either.
It’s been doom and gloom for the Aussies since the disastrous Eddie Jones-led 2023 Rugby World Cup campaign, and wider questions about participation numbers Down Under make their road to recovery all the more challenging.
But with ex-Ireland guru Joe Schmidt now at the helm and a first win under his belt, things could be starting to look up.
Schmidt’s ambitions of crafting the Wallabies into a competitive test side for the 2025 Lions Tour will not be without setbacks, but this morning’s three-try home win will at least help get fans onside for the interesting years ahead.
Tries from Taniela Tupou, Filipo Daugunu and Tom Wright did the damage, and Wales could only reply with a penalty try and kicks from flyhalf Ben Thomas.
“Loved the result,” said Schmidt after the game, but he knew the performance left much to improve upon.
“There’s lots to do around the performance.
“We kind of knew what was coming (from Gatland’s Wales) but to stop what’s coming is another thing.”
Australia haven’t lost to Wales on home soil since 1969, so if little else, that was a good record for Schmidt to keep intact.
Tougher challenges await but with Joe’s tactical brain, they’ll always have a chance.
