Joe Schmidt Remains Positive Despite Australia’s Loss to Scotland
Australia's hopes of completing a historic Grand Slam in Europe were dashed on Sunday when they suffered a 27-13 defeat to Scotland at Murrayfield. Despite the loss, Australian coach Joe Schmidt maintained an optimistic outlook, particularly for next year’s highly anticipated Lions series in Australia.
The Wallabies arrived in Europe with mixed results from the Rugby Championship, where they managed only one win from six games. Schmidt, who took over from Eddie Jones following Australia’s disappointing exit from the 2023 World Cup, had already seen his team face significant criticism, with many predicting a heavy defeat against the British and Irish Lions in 2024. However, Australia showed glimpses of improvement in their November tour, starting with a dramatic 42-27 victory over England and a dominant 52-20 win over Wales.
Despite these early successes, Schmidt's side came unstuck against a determined Scotland team. The match saw Scotland captain Sione Tuipulotu lead by example, scoring the only try of the first half and setting the stage for his teammates to build on the lead in the second half. Duhan van der Merwe, Josh Bayliss, and Finn Russell also crossed the line, securing a solid win for Scotland. Australia’s only consolation came late in the match, when debutant Harry Potter crossed for a try.
However, Schmidt found reason for encouragement in the performance, especially considering the high level of competition Scotland provided. He acknowledged that while the loss to Scotland was disappointing, the team’s progress was clear, and there were signs of growing momentum heading into the final match of the tour against Ireland in Dublin next week. Schmidt, who is familiar with the Ireland setup, highlighted the potential for future success, emphasizing that high performance is often unpredictable and not always linear.
Schmidt expressed confidence that Australia's performance against the Lions next July would be a closely contested affair. "I think there's some guys who played really well in that game today," he said, suggesting that Scotland's players could play key roles for the Lions, led by their coach Andy Farrell, whom Schmidt knows well from his time as Ireland’s head coach.
Meanwhile, Scotland's victory marked a milestone in their 2024 campaign. Tuipulotu, whose grandmother was present at the match, reflected on the team's performance with pride. He also noted that the team felt confident of beating Australia, further demonstrating the strength of the Scottish side as they prepare for next year’s Six Nations.
While Australia’s defeat against Scotland may have been a setback, Schmidt remains focused on the bigger picture, optimistic that his side can still build on their performances and challenge the best teams in the world, including the British and Irish Lions.
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