Reports are emerging this week that current Wallabies head coach Joe Schmidt may be more likely to see out his current contract than extend beyond 2025, with RA speaking to potential replacements behind the scenes should Schmidt walk after the Lions series.
If true, it’s a tough blow for Australian fans who have seen their side completely transformed from the sorry outfit that was carried out of France in 2023 on a stretcher. When Schmidt was hired, the ultimate goal was for Australia to be competitive against the Lions in 2025 and while there were painful moments during the Rugby Championship, it all just seemed to click on their Grand Slam tour.
The hard work put in down south came to the fore in the northern hemisphere with Australia recording two wins from four, beating England, demolishing Wales and running Ireland oh so very close. If Joe Schmidt does in fact choose not to extend his time as head coach, he walks away owing nothing. He was the perfect man to come in and steady the ship at a time when the future of the game in Australia was under question.
Rugby Australia have already outlined they are working on options should Schmidt choose not to extend his contract. Les Kiss, current head coach of the Queensland Reds and former assistant to Joe Schmidt with Ireland is being tipped as an early front-runner for the job. However, I think the Super Rugby franchises should be left alone.
I can’t remember a time when the Australian Super Rugby teams were in a better place.
New Tahs director of performance, Simon Raiwalui, has appointed Dan McKellar to the top job for NSW, who will be joined by former Ireland attack coach Mike Catt. With an array of new signings, injecting depth and quality into an already strong squad, now is the time for McKellar to deliver and truly earn the high regard Rugby Australia hold him in.
Dan McKellar. (Photo by Bob Bradford – CameraSport via Getty Images)
Stephen Larkham at the Brumbies is as ACT as it gets and is the perfect man to lead the Canberra-based side again this year. Now in his second year with the club, Ben Mowen gets another chance to instil his aggressive defence to his side that’s filled with Australian internationals.
Les Kiss has been a breath of fresh air for this group of Queenslanders who were unable to kick on from their Super Rugby AU title under Brad Thorn. Like Schmidt with the Wallabies, Brad Thorn was brought in to change the culture of the team who looked completely wayward under Nick Stiles. With Thorn choosing to dismiss problematic veterans and inject youth into the side early on, Les Kiss now inherits a young team with lots of experience. Despite the Reds being known for their free-flowing attacking rugby under Kiss, some of his most important impacts have arguably been around recruitment and his decision to focus on quality tight five players. Alex Hodgman and Jeffery Toomaga-Allen were the key pieces in year one. With an influx of former Melbourne Rebels and the future addition of Aidan Ross, Kiss continues to support his flair players with quality hard-nosed ones.
With another exciting list of off-season signings, now is the time for Simon Cron to piece it all together for the Force. The Western Force are now combining players in the twilight of their careers with Australian talent who have their whole future ahead of them. Cron was specifically name checked by Phil Waugh when discussing the current crop of coaches RA has in their Super Rugby stable should Joe Schmidt walk away. Cron’s work in 2023 saw several Force players play key roles for the Wallabies, with Jeremy Williams a clear standout. It’s now Cron’s job to build on that initial success and improve the output of the team, not just in recognition but with wins.
I would urge Rugby Australia not to cannibalise its own foundations, and look at options outside of Super Rugby for coaches to replace Joe Schmidt should he walk away. Yes, the franchises play different styles of games; however, Joe Schmidt will have instilled the same standards across the teams. It appears that Schmidt has a strong working relationship with all the franchises and the power of cohesion at Super Rugby level shouldn’t be overlooked.
Each head coach is responsible for bringing through new talent and developing their current stocks. The work McKellar, Larkham, Cron and Kiss do at a domestic level is felt at the international level and offers players a pathway to the gold jersey.
Les Kiss. (Photo by Kai Schwoerer/Getty Images)
Schmidt has already endorsed their skills by picking new players across each Super Rugby franchise. For once, Rugby Australia has pillars in place to support the Wallaby setup, and selecting the next head coach of the Wallabies from the Super Rugby level could disrupt overall progress.
While it may be cheaper to promote a current coach rather than hire externally, cohesion is just as important for long-term success. No doubt Schmidt’s signing would have cost the union, but it’s been worth every penny.
Each and every Wallaby player will have been sent home from camp with a list of areas where they can improve their game and, for once, I have faith in the current Super Rugby setups to help achieve those improvements.
The next Wallaby coach to come in, should Schmidt not extend, will equally benefit from that level of cohesion at Super Rugby level. The continuation of style of play at that level will also instil confidence in players who may see a change at international level.
Kiss is the early front-runner for the job, but could he have a greater impact by continuing on at the Reds? I think yes. There are options outside of Australia to consider and I think Phil Waugh and Daniel Herbert will consider external options for the sake of continuity in their five-year plan.
