No news is good news, right?
The fact that there hasn’t been an announcement yet bodes well for Wallabies fans. This means Joe Schmidt is really struggling with this decision.
This is a testament to how the man has treated the media this year and the fact that his situation commands a lot of respect. We’re not entitled to know what’s going on behind the scenes, but Schmidt’s honesty from the start means he has the time and space to make decisions, and so far I’ve found everyone who mentions his family’s situation to be so delicate and polite. I did it.
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So, as we say in Ireland, a big Bualadh bos (applause) for all your respectful reporting so far.
I think Schmidt will extend his time at the Wallabies. The progress they have made this year is exponential and the opportunity to bring this team to a home World Cup will be so exciting.
However, Rugby Australia must and will adapt its approach to Schmidt’s circumstances and needs. If the 59-year-old decides to confirm his current contract and complete his Lions tour, he will owe the team absolutely nothing.
Wallabies fans will look back on his tenure as a pivotal period that transformed not only the team but Australia’s sporting fortunes for years to come.
(Photo credit: Ross Parker/SNS Group via Getty Images)
However, if Joe Schmidt decides to confirm his current contract, there are a few names Australian Rugby might want to consider.
Stuart Lancaster
Stuart Lancaster, currently head coach of Racing 92 in the Top 14, would be a bold but astute acquisition. His time in England ended in record fashion, with the team becoming the first home country in the tournament’s history to fail to advance to the knockout stages.
The England team he inherited was in disarray after the 2011 World Cup was marred by off-field problems. Lancaster reorganized the team in a non-English way, instilling humility and discipline throughout the team.
The team was made up of very hard-working and talented players. Chris Robshaw, Tom Wood and Joe Launchbury were the mainstays of the team. Lancaster led England to four successive second-place finishes in the Six Nations and progressed to the knockout stages where they won against Wales in the RWC.
After being fired, Lancaster took his time choosing his next role. His vacation also included attending a seminar with the NFL’s Atlanta Falcons, which the team later lost to Tom Brady in the Super Bowl that year.
After broadening his sights, Lancaster signed for Leinster in what was seen as a bold move considering Dublin’s proximity to Twickenham and pool stage exit. He somehow felt fresher there than he did in Japan or Super Rugby.
However, Leo Cullen recognized his wealth of experience and desire to coach on the field. It’s something that fits well with Cullen’s general manager approach.
Leinster senior coach Stuart Lancaster leads a training session at Leinster Rugby HQ, Rosemount, University College Dublin, Ireland. Photo date: Monday, May 23, 2022. (Photo credit: Niall Carson/PA Images via Getty Images)
Lancaster reignited Leinster’s attacking philosophy and further improved the skills of a team comprised of Ireland internationals. Lancaster’s tenure at Leinster was full of trophies and the Irish side have not reached their attacking levels since his departure.
Led by Johnny Sexton, Lancaster’s phase play was as exciting as it was inevitable and suited Australia’s attacking armament perfectly. Players like Tate McDermott, Tom Wright, Noah Lolesio, and even Harry Wilson would flourish under his guidance.
His time with Racing did not go smoothly. Two-time World Cup-winning captain Siya Kolisi was effectively sidelined after the team’s owner questioned his work ethic and conditioning behind the scenes.
Owen Farrell has missed significant time and now that the team is struggling, fingers are starting to point at the Englishman. Michael Cheika has repeatedly said how difficult it is for foreign coaches to excel in the French league.
If Lancaster were recruited by Rugby Australia, I would like to see them follow a similar model to that at Leinster. Hire Lancaster to coach the team and bring in others to manage the team and media operations.
Conor O’Shea, the RFU’s current Director of High Performance, or Kieran Crowley, currently coaching the Honda Heat in Japan, would be interesting names. He’s a bit more old-school, as seen in Netflix’s Six Nations series, but he could be a good balance of Lancaster’s lightning and thunder.
Noel McNamara/Andy Friend
WHO? Even the most astute rugby enthusiasts may not be familiar with the name, and his employers want him to keep it that way. McNamara is currently in his second year as attack coach for the Bordeaux Begles, who are second in the league. Last year they finished third in the standings and reached the final, ultimately losing to Toulouse.
Bordeaux have just completed their European Champions Cup opener, scoring 42 points against Michael Cheika’s Leicester Tigers and 40 against Ulster in Belfast. They came from European foam blocks.
McNamara is reveling in the variety of talent he has to work with. Bordeaux’s current squad includes France internationals Damien Penault, Louis Viel-Biaray, Yoram Moefana, Maxime Lucou and Mathieu Jalibert.
Wallabies Adam Coleman and Pete Samu form the backbone of the pack along with Ben Tameifuna, Jonny Gray and Guido Petti. Bordeaux have already scored several electric tries this season and their offensive upturn has coincided with the arrival of Noel McNamara.
McNamara, who previously coached Ireland’s under-20s and coached Leinster’s Academy, spent two seasons with the Sharks in Durban before arriving in Bordeaux.
The attacking specialist is regarded as one of Ireland’s hottest coaching prospects and now is the perfect time to sign him before he becomes unmanageable. He signed a contract extension earlier this year, but that won’t rule him out of an international job. However, his release will cost RA significantly.
(Photo credit: Harry Murphy/Sportsfile via Getty Images)
McNamara’s lack of experience as a head coach led to him being paired with the consistent and experienced Andy Friend.
The Australian managed Connacht brilliantly at URC and is credited with developing coaches during his time there. Connacht’s current manager, Pete Wilkins, was Friend’s assistant and took part in Ireland’s successful 2022 tour of New Zealand, experiencing the environment under Andy Farrell.
Friend’s experience as the face of the organization has allowed McNamara to instill his own game plan into the Wallabies. His knowledge of the landscape here means he will be a trusted face for the Wallabies moving forward. McNamara may also have the support of a current coaching ticket with several years of experience.
Ronan O’Gara
Currently, La Rochelle’s director is mentioned at every opening around the world. After winning back-to-back Champions Cup trophies, his next entry is the Top14 title Bouclier de Brennus.
O’Gara revolutionized the small port city on the west coast of France. The former Munster 10 is incredibly demanding, but he combines attention to detail with a somewhat modern approach of empathy and familiarity with his players.
But make no mistake. While O’Gara is involved in team activities and constantly mindful of his players’ moods and situations, his aim is to win the title and his approach so far has reaped rewards.
Last year was a down year for the club. The team had been playing too much in recent seasons and looked to have suffered a rather unexpected defeat to arch rivals Leinster in the opening stages of the Champions Cup knockouts.
Once again their domestic dreams were ended by Toulouse in the semi-finals. This means there is huge pressure on them to get back to form this year.
La Rochelle is absolutely lethal when the ball carrier has his hands free after contact. There is an array of support runners ready to receive the ball at full speed, and once they connect they force the opposition to scramble like they’ve never scrambled before.
O’Gara has a checkbook to work with, but it’s not endless. He brought in several dismissed players such as Dillyn Leyds, Ihia West, Ultan Dillane and France’s Brice Dulin and put them together to win trophies. There are many stars throughout the team. Will Skelton fits the bill, as do Gregory Aldritt and Tawera Kerr-Barlow.
This Australian team has a similar level of quality to the team O’Gara inherited. These are stars with tremendous potential waiting to explode.
O’Gara has often expressed ambitions to coach at international level, citing Ireland, England and France as his preferred destinations. But maybe Joe Schmidt showed O’Gara what’s possible with the current players.
Will Skelton be able to convince his club coach to coach the Wallabies in another gold outfit? The argument is becoming more and more compelling.
