The 15 things we learnt about the Wallabies in 2024

The difference in where the Wallabies are now and where they were this time last year is enormous. On and off the field. After emerging from the wreckage of the 2023 Rugby World Cup, the Wallabies under Joe Schmidt have not only re-found their feet as an international side, but are now seen as having the ability to challenge the British and Irish Lions next year.

So what have we learnt in a 2024 season that has had its fair share of ups and downs, but finished with Wallabies fans feeling hopeful and optimistic about the future?

Schmidt can seriously coach

It goes without saying, right? But it’s worth reflecting on just how deep a hole the Wallabies were in when Schmidt arrived, and how recent that arrival actually was, in a coaching sense.

Schmidt had his first session with the Wallabies on June 23 – that’s just 161 days ago – and he said recently he found the players down on resilience and confidence. Week-by-week, the Schmidt fundamentals have become more and more visible – clinical breakdown work, for example – and with them came an ever-strengthening belief and confidence, in the coach and each other. It’s the sort of re-build that would usually take two years. Schmidt has done it a bit over five months.

Joe Schmidt has been outstanding for the Wallabies this year.Credit: Getty

Given what he might achieve in four years, then, Rugby Australia will be looking at any avenue possible for Schmidt to balance his work-life situation and stay beyond the Lions series. A meeting is scheduled in mid-December.

Noah argument now

Arguably the player who has most grown in confidence in 2024 is five-eighth Noah Lolesio, who finally ended the debate about who should be the first-choice No.10 for the Wallabies. The 24-year-old has been the subject of intense scrutiny in his Wallabies career, receiving criticism for inconsistency. But he was also in and out the Wallabies side, having been dropped and recalled several times by Dave Rennie since 2020.

Noah Lolesio barking orders to his teammates.Credit: Getty Images

This year, Schmidt backed Lolesio and stuck with him. The Brumby only missed one Test in the Rugby Championship and spring tour (the record defeat against Argentina, due to a back injury), and it came after Stephen Larkham did the same thing at the Brumbies.

Lolesio appeared to grow in stature with each week, and took on the assertive game-controller role that Rennie always wanted from him. His goalkicking was crucial, too – he only missed five shots of 37 at 86 per cent. Lolesio’s general kicking to the touchline needs work, but the No.10 shirt no longer seems like the problem area it once was.

Eddie selections get stranger with time

When looking at the Wallabies’ form players in 2024, it serves to highlight how strange some of Eddie Jones’ selection decisions were for the 2023 Rugby World Cup.

The following players were not good enough in Jones’ eyes: Tom Wright, Len Ikitau, Jake Gordon, Noah Lolesio, Lukhan Salakaia-Loto and Harry Wilson. Of the squad he took to France (not counting the injured), 12 didn’t play a minute of Test rugby this year.

Rookie of the year a nightmare

While we are making lists, Schmidt used a whopping 19 debutants (the most since 1958) but most went on to have a big impact. Try and pick a rookie of the year from this impressive selection of 2024 debutants: Jeremy Williams, Max Jorgensen, Dylan Pietsch, Isaac Kailea, Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii, Carlo Tizzano and Josh Nasser.

McReight up there with the best Wallabies No.7s

The folly of leaving Fraser McReight out of the Scotland game was shown by his outstanding performance against Ireland – although his weekend off may have been strategic, with a six-day turnaround to Dublin.

It’s hard to say McReight is the best No.7 in the game because many sides play another big man there, but you’d struggle to find a better openside flanker.

Fraser McReight was outstanding for the Wallabies in 2024.Credit: Getty Images

His workrate is exceptional, on both sides of the ball. He has all the toughness but is also a skilful and smart player, often with a touch or two in the best attacking plays. The biggest compliment is that he already stands in the company with those who’ve worn the gold No.7 before him: Poidevin, Wilson, Smith, Waugh, Pocock, Hooper.

Suaalii’s best position not settled

It is remarkable that Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii was out there starting for the Wallabies on the spring tour, and the excitement about his athleticism and skill is justified. But more thought – and trialling – is required in Super Rugby as to where he is best deployed.

Outside centre doesn’t seem to allow Suaalii to shine, either running with the ball or using his aerial skills. Wing may still be his spot. It would allow Suaalii to be involved in contestable kicking battles (in which Australia still struggles), be a cross-kick target and also roam more around the field.

Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii takes on England at Twickenham.Credit: Getty Images

Set-piece is critical

The Wallabies’ lineout, under forwards coach Geoff Parling, was a noticeable weapon in 2024 – in attack and defence. And that includes the vastly improved rolling maul, after a major overhaul was put in place following Wales scoring several tries through the maul in July.

But the scrum remains hit-and-miss. Scrum coach Mike Cron is the best in the business, so there is no question the Wallabies have the right man holding the iPad and whistle. But the right combination up front have yet to be nailed down, and it’ll need to be against the Lions. See game three in 2013 in Sydney.

Discipline is even more critical

One of the unsung improvements under Schmidt has been the Wallabies’ discipline. It tends to be a holistic situation – the better you play, the less pressure you’re under and the fewer penalties you concede – but after years of being the worst tier one nation for penalties and cards conceded, the Wallabies came back to the field this winter.

The average penalty count was down from 13 to 11 per game. On the spring tour, they had counts of 10, 10, 9 and, without coincidence, a blowout of 14 in the loss to Scotland. Perhaps the most critical improvement is this: after giving up almost a card per game from 2020-23 (39 from 43 Tests), the Wallabies only conceded two cards in their past eight Test matches.

Jorgensen steps out of the shadows

We’d been sleeping on Max Jorgensen, amid all the Suaalii hype. The 20-year-old – who only debuted in August – had a superb tour not just because he won the game with THAT try at Twickenham. Bigger and stronger, Jorgensen was trusted to start on the wing when Dylan Pietsch was injured and he rarely put a foot wrong. Yet another who’ll only get better and better at Test level.

Trust is the new black

A press conference buzzword of Schmidt and Wallabies players recently was the need to build “trust” among each other. And nowhere was that more evident than in the defence.

Under Laurie Fisher, the Wallabies moved away from the global trend of blitz defences and instead use a lateral system which gives more ground, but maintains strength in being connected and patient. It took a while to bed down, but the outstanding defence against Ireland showed the system working.

Wallabies defenders swarm Ireland’s Caelan Doris.Credit: Getty Images

Previous Wallabies sides have been their own worst enemy, opening up gaps with crazy shooters out of the line, and players trying to fix problems on their own. That comes from a lack of trust, and the 67-27 drubbing in Santa Fe was a perfect example for players about what can happen when they abandon that trust.

Healthy Wallabies are good Wallabies

The modern game is so brutal that there will never be a season where you don’t get injuries. But after several years of breaking players at a concerning rate – there were 40 injuries in 2022 – the Wallabies made it through a Test winter without an overflowing casualty ward. For the first time in three years, no Wallaby ruptured an Achilles tendon while on national duty.

Adventure is the secret weapon

Schmidt was known as a risk-averse coach in Ireland but he’s backed the Wallabies to embrace a sense of adventure. In Europe, the Wallabies repeatedly looked to launch attack from their own 22, with confident ball movement and the likes of Tom Wright running from deep. It’s heart-in-mouth stuff but there was also a lack of panic about it. The Wallabies seem very comfortable about their gameplan and understand it – including in their own danger zones.

Tom Wright races away for one of his three tries against Wales.Credit: Getty Images

Killer edge still required

Yes, yes, the 84th-minute winner in London mounts a good case against this point. But several other times this year the Wallabies let potential victory slip with an under-developed killer instinct. Which in real terms is an ability to score points when needed – as seen at Twickenham. The Wallabies’ three-point loss to the All Blacks in Sydney came when they failed to exploit New Zealand being down to 13 men, and they also had several chances to build pressure on Ireland in Dublin. Test rugby is decided by small margins, but good teams still win them more often than not.

Giteau Law may die a natural death

There will be added nerves for current Test stars weighing up their chances of taking off overseas and banking on still being good enough for Wallabies recalls. Those calls may not come in the future. Schmidt opted to use his overseas picks sparingly and backed Australian-based players – and the locals more than stepped up.

It’s easy to see a situation where only Will Skelton will be called in to play the Lions next year, and potentially only for a bench role.

Harry Wilson is the right captain for the right time

Australia has had some outstanding loose forward trios down the years, but Wilson-McReight-Valetini have been a revelation. Valetini rarely plays below an 8/10 and we have covered McReight.

But Wilson is a heart-on-sleeve player who proved an inspired choice as captain. It has served to lift his performances by several notches, and he naturally lifts players around him.

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