WALLABIES COACH JOE Schmidt tempered expectations on Thursday ahead of his first match in charge against Wales next week, admitting he had never been so unprepared.
The New Zealander was appointed in January to rebuild the team in the wake of Eddie Jones’ disastrous tenure and concedes he is still getting to know some of the players.
“I’ve never been so unprepared, to be fair,” he said after a four-day training camp in Brisbane.
“It’s a little bit daunting, to be honest, but if I wasn’t nervous, I don’t think I’d be on the edge doing my job right.
So, I’m happy to be nervous because it just encourages me to work a bit harder and engage a bit quicker and a bit more often with the players so that we can try to be on the same page.
Schmidt, who steered Ireland to the top of the rankings and then helped the All Blacks make last year’s World Cup final, has named a new-look 38-man squad for the first of two Tests against Wales in Sydney on July 6.
He needs to whittle it down to 23 and name a captain, but is keeping his cards close to his chest.
“The complication for me is just, first of all, I think it’s easier to select that first captain once you’ve selected your team to make sure they’re a starting player,” he said.
“And then from there, I think you gauge how well they go… I’m pretty sure that we’ll use more than just 15 of the same starters, so there could be a different captain for one or two of the Tests.
“And that will also allow us to just experiment a little bit.”
Australia, who have slid to ninth in the rankings, last met Warren Gatland’s Wales at the 2023 World Cup in France, crashing 40-6.
It is Wales’ first tour to Australia for 12 years and they have not beaten the Wallabies Down Under since 1969, losing 11 successive Tests.
weather looks miserable in Croker. that might be a slight advantage to Tyrone. they will be looking to slow the game down as much as possible and the weather will help. still think Kerry will win by 5 points.
If Tyrone win it will be the biggest shock in decades.
Donegal at 15/2 might disagree
This will be a GAA production of Beauty and the Beast.
Kerry by 4
Tyrone by 2
Goals :)
Good call Ronan, spot on.
love the irony of the Tyrone fans booing Kerry’s possession game…
Ah here leave it ouuuuut
I wonder will many Rangers fans stay tuned into SkySports5 and be watching this game..
Huh, “Amanda”?
That’s nearly as childish as the comment above it..
Amanda’s comment that is..
that’s just silly amanda.
for Fu*k sake. Will somebody at the 42 get rid of people who put up stupid comments like the one seen above.
free speech? sticks and stones..
Jeez Brolly talks some nonsense. Practically creaming his pants that Tyrone are a point down. Wonder if he’s giving the half time teamtalk to Tyrone through video link. Hasn’t given Kerry any credit for being 1 point up in an entertaining game.
Neutral by the way:-).
Martin Kearney absolutely up Tyrone arse commentating
Cmon Tyrone
up the Kingdom
C’mon Tir Eoghain
pretty good skill level is brutal conditions. shame to see Kavanagh in the refs ear every two mins. Mon and play the game, shaping up to be a good one
Donnaghy at least as bad…
Not from what the cameras are showing. Before you even start I support neither team but jaysus I hate that kinda moaning from either side. Tyrone by 2
that oul ejit won’t talk to Rte for telling the truth.
Up the Dubs ….
F(ck the Jackeens!
That was not a penalty
Tyrone are normally very good in tight games, interesting 2nf half to come
Kerry to win by about 10 pts – Tyrone have no chance.
don’t know about that now. good game so far
Yep good game and Tyrone doing better than I thought … but they have had a few bad wides and missed 2 clear goals – they will pay for those in the 2nd half
Jesus, Brolly is a bitter little man. Can’t give credit to Kerry only moaning about decisions given against Tyrone
Under 29.5 points is 5 to 2 at bet365 in the Kerry Tyrone match. Ground has to be ringing and joD bounces the ball too much in the wet. Ground has to be ringing, tyrone out to suffocate.
Croker park pitch stands up well to wet weather though?
That is a good result for Gaelic Football
Coybib
ref just copped out on that call
well the gaa will be happy ref just given them the match
I’m not sure they were handed the game but the ref favored Kerry all day.
The Sunday Game “Black Card Territory”
harsh blackcard for McNamee.
fantastic off the cuff play by Tyrone for all of the first 2 minutes.
Outrageous free by Morgan. Great game so far, both teams playing good football.
Change the record Paul Dunne.
it was a top class score. not many players would be able to score from there.
don’t read my comments aideen
haha right. Like you give anyone a choice. I’ll close my eyes as I scroll through just incase you’ve posted shall I? We get it. You hate Ulster football. You don’t need to remind us 10 times a day, every day.
Well said..
no if you that you won’t see any posts and that would be pointless, just skip a post I submit it’s what I do to yours unless you direct one at me.
You’re right, It’d be very pointless. A bit like your posts.
Doesn’t look like he skipped over your last comment.. I think you touched a nerve. Very entertaining game so far..
don’t be silly now it was a direct response to me.