'Not enough': Nervous Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt feeling strain with Lions series on line at the MCG
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MELBOURNE: Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt is adamant that his team is making progress as the rubber hits the road in a do-or-die second Test against the British and Irish Lions at the MCG on Saturday night.
The Lions outmuscled the Wallabies in a 27-19 victory in Brisbane that has them on track to make it back-to-back series wins in Australia.
Schmidt worked his players hard at Lakeside Stadium on Tuesday with a focus on set-piece and defensive clarity.
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The New Zealander claimed his players would have "melted" last year if they had been under the same pressure from the Lions.
Instead the Wallabies were able to win the second half and provide some optimism for the rematch.
"Another year before that, we're losing to Wales (at the 2023 Rugby World Cup under Eddie Jones)," Schmidt told Stan Sport's Morgan Turinui.
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Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt and James Slipper. Getty
"Then last year, we're just beating Wales and now we're competing with a team that none of the Welsh players could even make. So I do feel like we're making progress. I know there's not enough for us or for people supporting the team because we've got to try to make sure we get the advantage on the scoreboard we need on Saturday."
Schmidt will name his team on Thursday.
He said he had a "fit squad" and that Rob Valetini, Will Skelton, Langi Gleeson and Corey Toole were all "back in the mix" for selection.
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Schmidt, a former world coach of the year, said he was feeling the pressure of keeping the series alive.
"I get really nervous for every Test match, but try not to make that a contagious thing because I think players are looking for confidence from those who are trying to guide the team - and that's the leadership group and the coaching group," he said.
"And so for me, I'd be pretty pragmatic, pretty process-focused, and I think that helps you keep a lid on the nerves, because you're thinking about how to do things, not what the consequences might be."
