Former Wallabies full-back Greg Martin believes that not even Joe Schmidt can turn Rugby Australia’s fortunes around.
Martin hit out at Australia’s tactics and the head coach’s selections in the series-opening defeat to the British and Irish Lions.
While he predicts that the Wallabies can turn things around in the second Test, his overall view of the game in Australia is bleak.
The good news
This despite the massive influx of cash Rugby Australia will receive for hosting the Rugby World Cup in 2027 and wiping their debt with the Lions tour.
After dissecting the performance of Schmidt’s charges in the first Test and detailing how “horrible” a series defeat would be on Martin Devlin’s DSPN podcast, he turned to the positives from hosting the Lions tour.
“There are two things. The good news is that $80 million that Rugby Australia borrowed from that private equity firm, if we don’t pay that back, that firm owns Australian Rugby. The good news is that it will be paid off by the end of this weekend. Extraordinary. That’s how much money we’re ripping out of these tourists,” Martin said.
“So, we’ll be in the black again by the end of the Sydney Test. Fabulous. But if it doesn’t excite rugby fans, it’s of no use going forward.
“I know the World Cup will then make us money, and we’ll have money by the end of 2027, we’ll be flush with funds, that’s great. But if we don’t compete properly against these Lions, no one cares. And more so, rugby doesn’t get good in Australia again and doesn’t get popular until we beat you bastards [the All Blacks].”
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Joe Schmidt isn’t the Wallabies’ saviour
For Martin, New Zealand remain the benchmark for Australia and until they break the All Blacks’ stronghold on the Bledisloe Cup, rugby won’t rival the other sporting codes Down Under.
He added that Schmidt was hired as the man to turn things around for Australia, but not even the experienced coach can pull it off, according to the ex-outside back, as there just isn’t the talent pool for him to succeed.
“That’s the ultimate barometer. We play against you a lot, but we need to start beating the All Blacks, and I don’t know how that’s going to happen,” he continued.
“They thought Joe Schmidt was the saviour. Not even Joe Schmidt can save it, we don’t have the cattle at the moment.”
Despite having a bleak outlook overall, he does predict that the Wallabies will square up the series against the British and Irish Lions with a victory in Melbourne but will need some help from the officials.
“We are definitely going to do it… If we get a good referee who keeps them onside and we get those four or five changes, we can do it,” he said.
“They’re beatable, but hopefully by us.”