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Joe Schmidt’s ‘frustration’ as Wallabies fall short in another loss to Boks

By Finn Morton
Joe Schmidt, coach of the Wallabies looks on before the team photo during a Wallabies captain's run at Optus Stadium on August 16, 2024 in Perth, Australia. (Photo by Paul Kane/Getty Images)

Two days out from the Wallabies Test against the Springboks in Perth, halfback Nic White described the visitors as “the benchmark.” South Africa are the current men’s world champions and they’d taken their game to another level against Australia the weekend before.

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Kurt-Lee Arendse was almost untouchable as the winger with fast feet crossed for a decisive double at Suncorp Stadium on August 10. Those tries went a long way to helping the Boks claim their first win at the Brisbane venue in more than a decade.

Coach Rassie Erasmus made headlines a few days after that dominant 33-7 victory by naming a new-look side to take on the same foe at Optus Stadium. While the team boasted World Cup-winning talent, 10 changes to a First XV is always going to make headlines.

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While some fans and media outlets branded that Springboks outfit as the ‘B team’ going into the second Test, it didn’t seem to change either team’s approach. This was still international rugby after all, and both sides were desperate to get the job done on Saturday.

But when the full-time whistle sounded, Australia had lost again. Only six points separated the teams with 34 minutes to play but the Boks ended up running away with a 30-12 win. It was a result that left coach Joe Schmidt feeling a bit frustrated later that night.

“It’s a little bit of confidence and a little bit of frustration because when we got to 18-12, and it stayed like that for just a little while, we had a couple of half-opportunities to potentially build pressure or capitalise on opportunity that we didn’t take,” Joe Schmidt told reporters.

“If you don’t get those and you don’t grab those and you don’t create a little bit of doubt in their mind that we’re close enough and dangerous enough, then that a little bit of frustration.

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“But as I said, first half, I felt we fought really, really hard. We end up with a few good line breaks and a few opportunities… when Max (Jorgensen) did his (line break), there was that little bit of space behind there to look for if he could’ve found it.

“For us, it would’ve put us potentially back to 23-19 and then you’re right in the game again. We got so much good support today that I’m sure people would have been really excited about and obviously so would we.”

Points Flow Chart

South Africa win +18
Time in lead
13
Mins in lead
65
16%
% Of Game In Lead
81%
42%
Possession Last 10 min
58%
0
Points Last 10 min
7

Flyhalf Noah Lolesio kicked a penalty goal in the 46t minute to cut the Springboks’ lead down to an 18-12 margin. But two quick tries to replacement hooker Malcolm Marx took away any hopes of what would’ve been a surprising Wallabies win.

That leaves Australia at the bottom of The Rugby Championship standings after two rounds. They’re the only team yet to claim a victory in this year’s competition, with Argentina and New Zealand splitting their series in Aotearoa with one win each.

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While the Wallabies showed signs of improvement – with Angus Bell impressing in the first half, and so did Noah Lolesio in the No. 10 jumper – “it’s not going to get any easier.” All four teams have a week off but Australia will have one eye on their Tests in Argentina.

The Wallabies will take on Los Pumas in two Tests, while the Springboks host the All Blacks. Argentina will be riding a wave of confidence after stunning New Zealand in Wellington recently, and they’ll be eager to return to winning ways after losing at Eden Park.

“Firstly, they are a great bunch of men and they are incredibly proud to play for their country and incredibly disappointed not to be successful when they are playing for their country,” Schmidt explained.

“One of the things about this competition is it’s not going to get any easier. We play three of the four semi-finalists (from last year’s Rugby World Cup) and we weren’t one of them so it doesn’t get easier going to Argentina next.

“They’ll be disappointed with their first-half earlier tonight but that demonstrated just how tough they can be to beat when they toppled the All Blacks and didn’t even give them a bonus point.

“I’ve known (Argentina coach) Felipe Contepomi for a long time, I have a lot of respect for his rugby intellect and he’s a top man. Being friends certainly stops at kick-off, though, so they won’t be taking it easy on us and we’ll try to make things difficult for them.”

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Comments

11 Comments
F
FC 24 days ago

Fall short?

Try, "Humiliated by a below par Springbok B team"

M
MO 24 days ago

It’s going to take time for Joe to put his imprint on this team - after Eddie Jones debacle

M
Michael86 24 days ago

No one told him to go coach that team.

O
OJohn 24 days ago

He's just greedy for more money for his retirement to look after his family, with any easy job with no requirement to perform, by always saying he's building and he should be employed for the long term.

We have seen this bs from kiwi coaches every time. It's designed to keep Australia down.

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N
NS 2 hours ago
All Blacks dared to put 'record on the line' in 'biggest game in 2025'

We need big bodies to match European and South African Team. NZ got them in heaps. The end of the year Northern Hemisphere tour is coming and it is the perfect time to realign and makes changes.

Firstly, a few pointers for Razor. BB and DMAc are not 1st Fives. As long as these two start all blacks will never win big games. Pick only one in the reserve for big games as cover for FB. Richie Moanga is ok and better than BB and DMAc at 1st five. If Richie is available BB and Dmac should never be picked.

Secondly, Rico has to go. Rico is the reason why all blacks did not win the world cup. It was lost in the quarter final when he sledged departing Irish player. Perhaps if he had performed a haka and bring him to tears rather than derail him in his last day, Rugby Gods will be smiling at AB. It is karma. Like Gregans "wait 4 more years" Sledge and Australia lost the final to England

On the other hand, you see the South African players will never ever do such acts and go down that low. They are very respectful and good people and they will keep winning. Rugby Gods will make South Africa win and they will keep winning unless Scott makes these changes

Thirdly, Don't let Sam Cane go. All Blacks have to keep him for big games. All Blacks Maul Defense is good because of him. Just keep him at test level and no other Rugby or very minimal club Rugby. Young loosies should hang around with Cane and learn about humility and respect

A message to BB, Dmac, Rico, Ardie Savea and TJ. Please make yourselves unavailable for 2 years. Ardie you are good but not a Back Row. You are too light.

That out of the way, now let’s select the team.

Front row sorted out by Jason Ryan. Won’t talk about it.

Locking sorted out with Tupou, Scott, Darry, Pat Tuipulotu and Josh Lord

Loosies. Do away with Ardie for a while. Go with Siti, Sotutu, Cane, Ethan, Jacobson, Papalii and Finau

Young stars like Satiti and Finau have to be grounded and train hard in the gym and bulk up for the next world cup. Sotutu has to work harder off the ball.

Half Backs: TJ out.  Cam Roigard [has to learn to scream and communicate game time], Ratima and Noah Hotham

Back Line:            1st Five: Harry Plummer [Inside center Cover]

                                2nd five: JB [Fullback and first five cover]

                                Outside Centre: Billy Proctor

                                Wings: Clarke and Will Jordon [Fullback Cover]

                                Fullback: Ruben Love [1st Five Cover], Zarn Sullivan

Wings: Shaun Stevson [Fullback Cover], Talaea and Narawa

Centre: Quinn Tupaea, Umaga Jenson Brothers - need big boys, ALB

Messaage to BB, DMac, Ardiae, Rico and  TJ. If you want All Backs to evolve and be world leaders again, please make yourselves unavailable for 2 years. Please just do it for your country. You will come back stronger in 2 years.

New Zealand team reminds me of NSW State of Origin. They always had the best players in their positions but never selected them in their position until Madge came and now NSW will be untouchable.

12 Go to comments
J
JW 2 hours ago
'Schmidt will not be forgiven or forgotten if Wallabies suffer Bled-bath'

After a promising beginning at the restarts led by young lock Jeremy Williams

Haha and your man Frost got out jumped by a prop at the restart! As Rassie referred to Ethan Blackadder as "PSdT like" after their game I think I'll take the player support prize here thank you Nick!


Yep, all Gordon had to do was pass immediately and the whole situation becomes a positive about the good carry forward on exists.


Classic vide that! Love the Irerish crowd boeing two clear backward passes, a great example of what was to come over the next decade from the Emerald Isle! Awesome old comms quality hand to the ear "what was that?"!! That last sequence reminds of of how well the All Blacks attacked this weekend. It might be as far back as this game was played the last time we saw the AB build that sort of pressure on their own back without relying on any sort of opportunity from the opposition.

Argentina head honcho Felipe Contempomi cut his teeth as an attack coach in Stuart Lancaster’s innovative system at Leinster

Ahhh! That explains the great depth and sideways rugby they are playing!! Hve to disagree on your diagnosis you have to attack it, I think thats why Stuar and Contepomi want you to do. Best idea is Schmidt do what he did with the All Blacks, which seems to what they're trying, if not still without at least a few steps up. In saying that though, again this Springbok attack, I felt the All Blacks should hve kept pressure that first or second receiver after the first two steps up they take. They seemed ripe for the pick by contrast to Los Pumas.


If you look at Reece's side of the field, that would be a great oppostunity for NZ to perform blitzes on, Barrett, Rieko, and a thundering Reece doing his Feyi-Waboso impersonation would be the best blitz backline in the world. Clarke on the other wing too if playing. I think Dlyan Pietsch has the attitude and tackling technique to try and pull it off?


In fairness, I feel what you are seeing as passivity on defence as actually coming from a lack of intensity in general from Australia. I was thinking about that during this game. It might be New Zealands great battle with the Springboks that has enabled them to develop it as a weapon, but I can't ever remember it as being one of the Wallabies. Those clashes always seem to been about pure tempo. The ABs flicked a switch in game two versus Argentina and kept their physicality up through both South African games. Perhaps that is the "Australian Way" piece that Schmidt is missing? 'Tempo' is a much hard switch to find, especially in the dark.

206 Go to comments
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LONG READ Can Schmidt revisit history and revive Wallabies for ‘worst type of All Blacks'? Can Schmidt revisit history and revive Wallabies for ‘worst type of All Blacks'?
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