Australian rugby pundit Matt Williams has praised the transformative impact of Joe Schmidt on the Wallabies, noting that the improvements under his leadership did not require “rocket science.” Williams, known for his candid commentary, recently highlighted the Wallabies’ resurgence, marked by a victory over South Africa in Johannesburg and a narrow loss in Cape Town.
The Wallabies are now gearing up to face Argentina in Townsville. Williams, who previously coached at Leinster before Schmidt’s tenure began in 2010, has offered an in-depth analysis of the recent developments in Australian rugby.
The Schmidt Effect: A Turnaround Story
Australian rugby, home to two-time World Cup winners, faced a significant setback when the abrupt dismissal of Dave Rennie led to Eddie Jones’ appointment as head coach. Jones’ tenure culminated in an unprecedented early exit from the World Cup pool stages in 2023.
With Schmidt set to take over in 2024 after his role as an assistant with the All Blacks, the Wallabies have experienced a notable change in fortunes. They secured a win against England at Twickenham last November and delivered strong performances against the British and Irish Lions, as well as the Springboks in South Africa.
“After the Wallabies came within a whisker of winning the Lions series, then defeated the world-champion Springboks at Ellis Park, Ireland are claiming the Wallabies coach as one of their own,” Williams wrote in the Irish Times.
Strategic Appointments and Fitness Focus
Williams credits Schmidt’s strategic appointments of experienced coaches Mike Cron and Laurie Fisher for helping to guide a young team that had lost its identity and confidence. According to Williams, the Wallabies had long been lacking in fitness compared to the world’s best teams.
“An absolutely crucial aspect of the Wallabies’ improvement is that Schmidt has worked these Wallabies into supreme condition,” Williams noted. The enhanced fitness has bolstered the team’s self-belief and confidence, key components that had been missing from Australian rugby.
Schmidt’s influence extends beyond fitness. He has also benefited from the decision by rugby administrators to consolidate talent by cutting the Melbourne Rebels Super Rugby franchise. This move concentrated Australia’s talent pool into four stronger teams, leading to improved performances in 2025.
Building a Competitive Squad
Since his appointment, Schmidt has maintained a core group of players, including captain Harry Wilson, and has advocated for the return of key overseas players like Will Skelton. This strategy has been vital for a country with a relatively small rugby talent pool.
Williams acknowledges that not everything has been smooth under Schmidt, citing a record loss in Argentina as a low point. However, he remains optimistic about the Wallabies’ future.
“The culmination of all of these decisions is that Schmidt now has a competitive group of about 25 international quality players that he can select from,” Williams concluded.
A Return to Australian Rugby Tradition
The essence of Schmidt’s transformation is not just in the Wallabies’ victories but in their return to a distinctively Australian style of play. The team has embraced a dynamic, intelligent, running rugby style that resonates with Australia’s rugby heritage.
As the Wallabies continue their season, one thing is clear: Joe Schmidt’s influence has reinvigorated Australian rugby, and as Williams humorously puts it, “all you Irish can forget claiming back ‘Joseph O’Schmidt’. Well done, Wallaby Joe.”
