Former Ireland head coach Joe Schmidt masterminded one of the craziest comebacks in test rugby history this weekend, as Australia claimed a stunning victory over world champions South Africa.
Before Saturday’s match-up, the Wallabies had not won in South Africa’s fortress of Ellis Park since 1963. Languishing in sixth in the world rankings, with the Springboks leading the way, few if any gave Australia a chance going into the weekend – and that was before they went 22-0 down inside 18 minutes.
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What followed was one of the most remarkable sequences of rugby in recent memory, as Schmidt’s Aussies put up 38 unanswered points to leave the Johannesburg crowd stunned into silence.
It was one of Australia’s greatest wins of the past decade, following the third test win against the Lions earlier this month. Both results are a testament to the impressive work Schmidt has done since taking over early last year.
Schmidt had spent the previous 18 months with the All Blacks and had more than a hand in their dramatic World Cup quarter-final win over Ireland.
Six memorable years in charge of Ireland had ended in defeat to the same opposition at the same stage of the 2019 tournament in Japan. New Zealand’s game plan for the corresponding fixture at France ’23 had Schmidt’s fingerprints all over it.
After yet another memorable game plan was executed to perfection by a Joe Schmidt team, Matt Williams pointed out how Schmidt’s time with the All Blacks had changed him as a coach, and pondered how differently the 2019 World Cup could have panned out.
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Matt Williams laments Joe Schmidt change since 2019 Ireland disaster
19 October 2019; Ireland head coach Joe Schmidt prior to the 2019 Rugby World Cup Quarter-Final match between New Zealand and Ireland at the Tokyo Stadium in Chofu, Japan. Photo by Brendan Moran/Sportsfile
It’s no secret that the 2019 World Cup was an unmitigated disaster for Ireland. Pool stage defeat to Japan was followed by a quarter-final thrashing by New Zealand and the Joe Schmidt era ended under a cloud.
Speaking on Off the Ball this week, Matt Williams claimed Ireland could have won that World Cup if Schmidt had had them playing like Australia did on Saturday in Johannesburg.
Williams highlighted the trust that Schmidt had put in substitute prop Zane Nonngorr, one of the many players who struggled for the Wallabies at the 2023 World Cup. Nonngorr came off the bench to play a decisive role against the Boks on Saturday, a call that Williams says would not have been made under a lesser coach.
Joe deserves massive, massive credit.
That’s what a good coach does. He improves those players that he’s got, he adds value to the product. Joe and his staff deserve all the credit to have added value to that team.
The biggest value is your self-belief and allowing those guys to play an attacking brand of rugby.
Much of the criticism aimed at Schmidt after Ireland were mauled by the All Blacks in Tokyo in 2019 was at how rigid the Irish game plan had become.
Matt Williams argued that the years since have seen Schmidt evolve as a coach and that Ireland would have gone much deeper into the tournament were it to take place now.
“If you go back…there’s no criticism, it’s an observation,” Williams began.
I wish Joe – because he’s a different coach now, he’s learned, he’s been with the All Blacks, he’s learned there. He’s come to Australia and learned there.
If Ireland had been playing this way in 2019, they could very well have made the final of the World Cup. Whether they would have beaten South Africa is an argument. But they certainly would have gotten out of the quarters playing this style of rugby that he’s seen working with New Zealand, now he’s implementing with Australia.
It is working with this Australian team. This is how it works, just look at the scoreboard. The scoreboard is showing an incredible change in confidence, outcomes, and process in this team.
Hindsight is a beautiful thing, but it’s hard not to feel that Williams has a point.
Joe Schmidt is set to exit as the Wallabies’ head coach at the end of the Rugby Championship, but there will be plenty of Australian fans who will be desperate for him to stay if their form continues like this.
Should they back up their comeback in Johannesburg with a second win over South Africa in Cape Town next week, it would mark a dramatic turnaround in the Aussies’ fortunes.
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