Rugby news: Why ‘boring’ Kiwi Joe Schmidt is just the man to save the Wallabies
Joe Schmidt is a rarity among New Zealand rugby figures. Not only does he actually know how to leave his ego at the door, but even Aussies want the self-described ‘boring’ coach to succeed, writes JULIAN LINDEN.
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Joe Schmidt is a rarity among New Zealand rugby figures.
Even Australians want this bloke to succeed.
That’s not just because he’s the latest man to accept the dubious challenge of trying to save the Wallabies from oblivion.
It’s because he’s a decent bloke by all accounts, who leaves his ego at the door so he can get his melon through it.
Not many who have been inside the All Blacks’ camp can lay claim to that.
As every downtrodden Wallabies’ supporter will attest, our mates from across the Tasman never cease to remind us how much better they are at playing rugby than Australians.
That’s why the thinnest book never written would be entitled “the All Blacks’ guide to remaining humble”, filled with only blank pages.
Schmidt is an exception, regarded as one of the good guys because he earned his stripes in Ireland, leading the men in green to historic wins over the men in black.
At his first meeting with the dwindling pack of Australian rugby scribes, Schmidt ticked all the feel-good boxes, explaining that he was a family man first, which he genuinely is, and revealing his only motivation for wanting to coach his nation’s sporting enemy.
“I’m desperate for the Wallabies to be competitive,” he told the press. “And if I can help, that’s why I’m here.
“I think the global rugby family is desperate for the Wallabies to be where they need to be.”
In another time, any Kiwi claiming they wanted the Wallabies to win the Bledisloe Cup would have sent the markings on a polygraph test right off the charts.
But Schmidt looked like he meant it, which underpins just how low Australian rugby has fallen.
Even the New Zealanders feel sorry for the Wallabies now.
That wasn’t the case just a year ago when Dave Rennie – another salt of the Earth chap from over the Ditch – was punted for failing to turn around the Wallabies’ fortunes after three fruitless seasons in charge.
But the World Cup disaster that unfolded under his successor Eddie Jones changed everything, to the point where the Kiwis are now serious about wanting to help.
“The World Cup was not an Australian team that I recognised,” Schmidt sad.
“Certainly not from my time. Coming here last time with the Irish in 2018, it was a super contest right through the three test matches.
“So there’s this period of time now, to work out how and what’s next.”
On paper, Schmidt looks like a good fit. The 58-year-old has an impeccable record as a coach and reputation for mentoring young players, though he’s no soft touch.
He may be quietly spoken and shy in front of the television cameras but he’s still a hard taskmaster and stickler for detail.
He certainly won’t be telling reporters to give themselves an upper cut but the Australian players that come under his watch will soon realise he’s a boss with high expectations.
That’s all music to the ears for long-suffering Wallabies fans sick of seeing the team lose and worn out by Jones’ unfulfilled huff and puff.
But Schmidt is also too streetwise not to understand that being regarded as a good bloke counts for nothing in the cut throat world of professional rugby.
Rennie didn’t have a mean bone in him either but that didn’t save him from getting the axe.
When Jones was recalled, he was also hailed as a saviour.
A one-man show and born entertainer, he had everyone talking about rugby again – but everything went flat long before he bid Sayonara when the losses started to pile up.
Wisely, Schmidt has only signed a short contract, through to next year’s British and Irish Lions tour, saying his intention is to fix the rot then hand over to an Australian.
The chance to disembark early might offer some comfort to the former schoolteacher but he will also know that short flights can sometimes be the most turbulent because it often takes time to find the smoothest path.
Perhaps that’s why he’s not making any outlandish claims like Jones did.
Describing himself as “boring”, instead of talking himself up, he’s talking himself down, already pleading for patience.
That makes Aussies like him even more but it remains to be seen how long that lasts.
“This is a really unique challenge,” Schmidt said.
“If we can get the right people and they can perform on the field, I do think we can build things and get the flagship going.
“But it’s a rebuild that will take a little bit of time and I’m probably a pragmatist.
“I can’t promise anything other than I’ll be working really hard to try to make it as successful as it can be and trying to get some early wins on the board.
“Those wins may be just that we perform better, even if we don’t quite get the outcomes we’re looking for.
“But, I’m also a realistic coach. You get judged on your outcomes and you live or die by them.”
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