Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt ready to gamble against Georgia despite their shock win over Eddie Jones’ Japan
It has cost Wallabies coaches dearly in the past, but Joe Schmidt is ready to make big changes to his side for their next clash, writes JAMIE PANDARAM.
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Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt has forecast making changes to his winning team despite Georgia producing a shock win over Eddie Jones’ Japan.
After two close wins against Wales to begin his tenure as Australian coach, Schmidt now prepares for the underrated Georgia in Sydney next Saturday.
It will be the final match before The Rugby Championship starts in August, with tough back-to-back games against world champions South Africa.
Previously, the Wallabies could have experimented with young and inexperienced players against a tier-two nation, but their slide down the world rankings over the past few years makes that a dangerous proposition.
One of the key reasons Dave Rennie was sacked in favour of Jones was his decision to name an inexperienced side in the 2022 spring tour against Italy, which they lost.
Schmidt is still learning about his players, but is confident enough in his squad already to suggest revamping the side again, after they defeated Wales 36-28 at AAMI Park in Melbourne last Saturday.
Ironically, Jones is now in charge of Japan and they lost 25-23 to Georgia.
It is a result that will cause supporters some concern.
“I’m always worried, I don’t care who we’re playing, I’m worried,” Schmidt said.
“But worried makes you work hard and makes sure you try to be thorough in the selections you do make.
“We’re trying to build a real squad mentality, and have confidence in the players across the board.
“The guys who weren’t selected, they are a massive part of the preparation of the team that go on, and the subs that come on later in the game.
“Then you earn opportunities on the back of that. They’ll be decisions we think through in the early part of the week.
“We always have a little medical on a Sunday morning before we fly just to make sure guys have come through okay.
“We’ve got confidence in the players we do have in the squad, there probably will be a couple of changes.
“We made five changes this week I think, and there could be that many again.
“When you try to build cohesion, it’s a little bit of a difficult equilibrium that you’re trying to find with that combination of confidence and continuity, and offering opportunity.”
Centre Len Ikitau and backrower Harry Wilson haven’t played a Test yet but are expected to be fully fit for Georgia, as are playmaker Tom Lynagh and first Test captain Liam Wright.
Georgia pride themselves on a dominant scrum.
However, the appointment of Kiwi scrum guru Mike Cron to the Wallabies staff has vastly improved Australia’s scrum, and they were able to win key penalties against the Welsh on occasion.
While Wales have now lost nine games in a row, coach Warren Gatland vowed his side would be a threat at the 2027 World Cup in Australia.
“I am confident this is going to be a good team,” Gatland said.
“If you’re another team at the moment and you can see how much we can improve, I don’t think you want us in your pool at the World Cup.”
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Originally published as Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt ready to gamble against Georgia despite their shock win over Eddie Jones’ Japan