Australia’s Test players have given their support to incoming Wallabies head coach Joe Schmidt as they aim to improve their fortunes after a difficult international season.
The former Ireland boss and All Blacks assistant coach is set to start his stint with the Wallabies on a two-year contract from March, and is tasked with restoring their status as one of the powerhouses of international rugby after last year’s World Cup struggles.
is credited with bringing success to the Irish set-up in the 2010s, and Waratahs centre Lalakai Foketi is hoping he can make a similar impact with
.
“It’s great news for Australian Rugby,” Foketi told Rugby Australia’s official website.
“To be honest, I haven’t really looked too much into it. We’re training hard here and I’m a big believer, and I’ve said this before, if you do the right things on the field and through your Rugby, then you get to have those conversations with those kinds of people.
“The boys were talking before about his history and what he’s done for Rugby in Ireland and he was with the All Blacks when they made the final in the World Cup.
“It’s great. I think this year is a massive change for Rugby in Australia. Everyone’s excited and it gives everyone a fresh start as well so that’s all we’ve really been talking about.
”
“It’s good to have someone with that success and I wish him all the best to bring that to us here in Rugby,” winger Mark Nawaqanitawase added to Rugby.com.au.
“Hopefully he can help us change some things and be a bit more successful. We need to start with wins, especially against those Kiwis side and then hopefully all the Aussie sides are cracking and ready to take on the Kiwis and take it into the Test season.”
Foketi’s Waratahs team-mate, front-row Angus Bell, who was one of the Wallabies’ best players during a tough 2023 campaign, highlighted the importance of building the foundations at Super Rugby level.
“From all reports, Joe is a high-level coach and obviously it’s really exciting times leading into the Lions,” said Bell.
“We’re all very excited but firstly we’ve got to play good Super Rugby here and put our best foot forward for the ‘Tahs.
“It’s super exciting times and we’re really excited for the year ahead.”
Meanwhile, Melbourne Rebels utility back Andrew Kellaway believes Schmidt coming in is what’s needed as the Wallabies set their sights on their first Test of 2024 against Wales in July.
“I think a new coach brings a whole host of things and for us after an interesting 12 months, it’s a breath of fresh air for us.
It’s exciting,” Kellaway told Weekend Today.
“Hopefully it pushes us in the right direction, because we’re not where we want to be at the moment… we’re all really disappointed with how the last 12 months shaped up for us.
“A new coach is a positive push in the right direction.”
