If the Wallabies don’t already have enough motivation heading into their penultimate Test of the year, they’ll be playing to send out their coach, Joe Schmidt, on a high as the former Ireland coach prepares for one last dance in Dublin.
Revered in Ireland for revolutionising Irish rugby during his near decade with Leinster and the national side, Schmidt returns to the Aviva Stadium one last time with his Wallabies side in desperate need of its master coach to break down their opposition one more time after five defeats in their past six Tests.
While the shift of optimism in Australia has faded since the highs of August, when the Wallabies beat the Lions and Springboks at Ellis Park in the space of two weeks, inside camp, the men wearing gold are just as behind Schmidt as ever.
A day after Carter Gordon spoke glowingly of his new boss, returning midfielder Len Ikitau went ever further, saying the New Zealander had saved the careers of several Wallaby castoffs under Eddie Jones.
“I think every game we want to play for our coaches, we want to play for our country, so it’s no different this week,” Ikitau told reporters following their Test Match Tuesday training session.
“But Joe’s been massive for us.
“A lot of the boys in this group went to a World Cup, and some boys didn’t get to go to a World Cup. I think he’s kind of saved a couple of boys’ careers.
“All we want to do is give back to Joe, and what better way to do that than put in a good performance on Saturday.”
Len Ikitau says the Wallabies are eager to send Joe Schmidt out a winner in Dublin. Photo: Julius Dimataga, Rugby Australia
Ikitau, who is expected to return to the Wallabies’ midfield for the showdown against the world No.3 side, has shone more than most under Schmidt.
A mainstay under Dave Rennie, Ikitau was initially selected by Jones in the No.13 jersey, but after suffering a short-term injury a month out from the 2023 World Cup was surprisingly left out of the Wallabies’ squad for the tournament.
Ikitau then copped another reality check when Schmidt told his agent, David Shand, that he wasn’t in his initial plans with the Wallabies either.
But rather than throw the toys out of the cot, Ikitau said the brutal news only made him work harder and helped steel his focus to go on to command a spot in the Wallabies’ starting side.
“He’s real honest. He’s honest with his feedback,” Ikitau said.
“If you’re not sharp or intent on doing something, he’ll pull you up. So yeah, just having him as a coach has been awesome for us.
“Well, when he first came in, he had a chat with my manager, and he said that I wasn’t in the squad at the moment.
“And that was the honest feedback that I got.
“I think it kind of helped me to push that extra mile.
“So just having those honest conversations with him have been good.
“He’s one of the best coaches I’ve ever had.
“I think we’re going to miss him when he leaves.”
Schmidt will hand over the coaching reins after the three Nations Cup Tests next July, with Les Kiss to succeed his old boss.
Nor is he the only one to have benefited from Schmidt’s appointment, saying Harry Wilson had thrived under the New Zealander since being brought back from the cold against Georgia last year.
“I could go on all day, but we don’t have time. But yeah, like our skip, obviously he was kind of on the fringe of the Wallabies team, and I think the way he’s transformed over the last couple of years has been awesome,” Ikitau said.
“I look at him as a genuine leader within this pack and this team, and that’s just one person out of a lot of boys in the team.”
Harry Wilson is one of a handful of players who got a second chance at the Wallabies under Joe Schmidt. (Photo by Matt King/Getty Images)
Ikitau’s return, as well as James O’Connor’s, has just been the news to put a spring in the steps of the Wallabies after two underwhelming defeats.
Ikitau, who was crowned the John Eales Medallist last month, said he was left frustrated sitting in the stands over the past fortnight watching his teammates struggle.
“It was obviously disappointing with the results, but for me it was just good to be back in the group, being back with the boys, so overall it’s just good to be back with the Wallabies,” he said.
Asked why he didn’t play in Udine against Italy, the 27-year-old put it down to being his first week back in the squad and the fact his replacement, Hunter Paisami, had shown plenty in his absence.
“I think just with combinations, I think Hunter and Joseph [Suaalii] were going well, and obviously it was my first week back in, so I didn’t think Joe wanted me to play, so obviously disappointing, but I think just the week of training and training this week, I should be up for selection.”
His return won’t just be welcomed because of his qualities on both sides of the ball, but the threats coming the Wallabies’ way.
In particular, Andy Farrell has a well-drilled side eager to find their rhythm after a couple of clunky performances.
Farrell is also likely to deploy another hulking figure or two in the midfield, with the 112kg frame of Stuart McCloskey likely to be fit and available to run at the Wallabies.
That could also see Bundee Aki, who helped sink the Wallabies with a try in Dublin in 2022, come off the bench to provide some more punch in the second half.
Bundee Aki helped sink the Wallabies in 2022. (Photo: AP/Peter Morrison)
It’s a scary thought for the Wallabies, particularly given their troubles in defence where they’ve been guilty of giving away plenty of space, especially from set-piece plays, and the wet conditions that will make playing running rugby all the harder.
“They’ve got some big centres,” Ikitau said. “I’m not a big centre myself, but they’ve got really direct ball carriers who can play out the back as well.
“They’ve also got sharp tens who know how to use their centres and know how to get the ball to an edge. So for us, it’s about climbing to be sharp and on our toes.”
Ikitau isn’t the only familiar face expected to return, with Max Jorgensen and James O’Connor set to return to the matchday side.
And after a strong training session on Tuesday, Ikitau said the Wallabies were confident of bouncing back.
“It does help having Rabs [O’Connor] back in the squad,” Ikitau said.
“Older head, he’s very experienced, steering the boys around and obviously kind of helping Tane [Edmed] along the way, which has been good.
“But I think in terms of intent and physicality, we were pretty sharp today.”
James O’Connor is set to return to the Wallabies’ matchday team to take on Ireland in Dublin. Photo: Julius Dimataga, Rugby Australia
After the Wallabies kicked four ball outs on the full against Italy, O’Connor will be asked to command the side around the park.
“I think we can do a better job of controlling where we want to play, and then just making sure that we’re getting opportunities to get the ball to an edge,” Ikitau said.
“We’ve got some awesome wingers who in space are pretty hard to tackle, so it’s just making sure that we’re able to share the load within the forwards and then just taking those opportunities.”
Wallabies assistant coach Tom Donnelly added that O’Connor would help steer the ship.
“The boys love having him back around and he knows how to drive a game around,” he said. The boys have got a lot of trust in him and he understands how we play.”
The Wallabies are looking to win their first Test in Dublin since 2013, having lost the past four matches at the venue by three points.