Joe Schmidt breaks silence on 'disappointing' Wallabies exit in Stan Sport exclusive
Updated . First published
Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt has broken his silence on the decision to walk away from the job after this year's Rugby Championship.
Rugby Australia had desperately hoped the New Zealander could continue until the 2027 Rugby World Cup but Schmidt has decided he needs to spend more time with his family.
Schmidt's wife Kellie and son Luke - who suffers from severe epilepsy - live in Taupo.
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Joe Schmidt of the Wallabies speaks to Phil Waugh. Getty
"I've got to say the first thing is I've loved it, loved the opportunity," Schmidt told Stan Sport's Morgan Turinui on Friday night.
"It's been a privilege and the players, the staff, it's been a bit of a whirlwind, but it's been a heck of a lot of fun.
"And so it's disappointing for me but I also know that it's something that I need to commit to finishing up."
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Australia coach Joe Schmidt before the Autumn Nations Series match. Getty
Schmidt's initial contract ended after this year's British and Irish Lions tour in August but he has extended it until October.
"I also know that to finish up after the Lions, six days, you're flying to to Jo'burg to play the South Africans. I don't think that's the best time for a transition. So the end of the TRC is probably a good compromise. So I'm looking forward to seeing the boys go against the Lions and working with them again."
Schmidt admitted the impending Lions challenge was a daunting one.
"I'm nervous about what we're going to see because I know how good they are," the former Ireland coach said.
"I know a lot of the players personally, I've coached a lot of the Lions guys who are going to turn up, so I know their quality and depth.
"But I'm starting to learn a lot more about our guys. Our quality is starting to come to the surface and I'm hoping that we can still see some depth emerge through Super Rugby this season."
Turinui asked Schmidt what he wanted to see from Australia's players in Super Rugby this season.
"A priority for us is making sure they're back in the game, they're on their feet, that they're seeing things early, moving early and getting to where the team needs them to be," he said.
"And some of those repeatable behaviors when they look after the ball or they look after each other at the breakdown, some of the skill factors, the quality of their passing game.
"Their ability to find space in their kicking game and the quality of the catching. We know that the catch is going to be more contested than ever. So that's another thing to build on."
