‘Immediate’ Schmidt explains ‘paradoxical’ choice and challenges Wallabies’ ‘narrow’ attack

“Impatient” Joe Schmidt has rejected suggestions that Wallabies half-back Tate McDermott is focusing on a narrow attacking plan as he clarifies his approach ahead of the Test against Argentina in Buenos Aires and explores the “paradoxical” nature of team selection.

On Friday, Schmidt named 23 players, making five changes to the team that suffered a crushing defeat to South Africa in Perth two weeks ago. He brought in Hamish Stewart as the 12th debutant for the sixth Test, with the 15th being a debutant.

There is also a new captain on the left, with Harry Wilson stepping in after Allan Alaalatoa moved to the bench, allowing Schmidt to make the most of Taniela Tupou, who missed the Springboks double header. Wilson will be Schmidt’s fourth captain since taking over. Growling.

Schmidt, who is due to play 13 Test matches in 2024, is almost halfway through his first year on a two-year contract.

When he took over he said the team had to find its rhythm “very, very quickly” but on Friday he said circumstances such as injuries and the weather had worked against the team.

Earlier this week, Tate McDermott said Schmidt’s offensive scheme is “very different than what I’m used to with the Reds. We play a very wide game, and Joe’s scheme is very narrow.”

Stan Sports pundits and former Wallabies players Tim Horan and Morgan Turinui pointed out the narrowness of the pitch while covering the match against the Springboks.

But Schmidt insisted that was not his concern.

“We were quite expansive against Wales and Georgia. We wanted to expand against South Africa in the first game, but it was quite rainy. Melbourne was also wet in the second Wales Test,” Schmidt said.

“We haven’t been blessed with the right weather for extended rugby. I think one of the things that has affected us in the last few weeks against South Africa is width. If you stand wide, when you make two passes, the second pass goes to the receiver and it makes it very difficult.

“If you can power the pass and get the guy to come to you and then play around him or through him, you’ll have a better chance of not getting run over by a fast-moving big man, especially when you’re going through the middle of the field with a hard-hitting big man like Jesse Kriel, Damian de Allende or even Lucaño Arm.

“If they start throwing wide passes at you, you’re going to get pushed back very quickly.”

McDermott pointed out that Schmidt’s style was “very different to how all the Super Rugby teams play”.

(Photo: Morgan Hancock/Getty Images)

Asked about McDermott’s comments, Schmidt said: “It’s a completely different level to Super Rugby.”

“I’ve coached Super Rugby for many years and Test rugby for many more years. If you think you can replace one way of playing with a Test pitch, I think there’s a certain degree of risk there. That’s not to say we don’t want to play extensively.

“Conditions have probably not been great the last few weeks and they don’t look like they will be this week (rain is forecast for Sunday’s game).”

Schmidt was asked if he was satisfied with the progress his team was making in executing the plan.

“When you talk to coaches, you find they are impatient,” Schmidt said.

“They want to adopt things quickly, understand things quickly, and deliver even faster. So there’s a process there, especially when there’s a lot of change from game to game.

“We’re trying to increase the depth and breadth of our player pool because we know that no matter how hard we try, if we lose a few players at certain positions, we can quickly become vulnerable if we don’t have that strength and depth.

“We’re trying to cover multiple bases at once, growing the game we play while also building the strength and depth of the players who can play that game.

“And you’re also competing against three of the four semi-finalists from last year’s World Cup. So you’re up against some very strong opposition trying to implement something new.”

Former coach Eddie Jones left no doubt about his mission: first to win the Rugby Championship (failure), then to win the World Cup (big failure), and then to build a team that could compete in the 2027 World Cup (TBC). Schmidt is trying to balance the two goals.

It was a Harum-Scarum approach and Schmidt was expected to have a calming hand on the key. There was more player movement than many expected.

(Photo: Matt Roberts/Getty Images)

“Some changes have been made, not all intentionally, but really based on demand,” Schmidt said.

Paradoxically, we try to take a long-term view based on a short-term perspective.

“We’re trying to win the Test match on Saturday, but we’re also trying to take a long-term view and invest in the development of a number of players who we believe can provide a player base from the Wallabies to the Lions and up to the 2027 World Cup. That has to be part of the long-term plan because it’s a massive opportunity to showcase the game, promote the game and be really competitive in the game and in Australia itself.”

Schmidt understood the frustration fans felt as the Wallabies struggled for their future.

“It’s going to take time, but what we’re hoping to do is continue to build the processes that we’re trying to get right. Sometimes it takes a little while to get results, but we’re not patient,” Schmidt said.

“I know our supporters are looking forward to seeing what happens on the scoreboard and that’s what we will be trying to do on Saturday.”