Former Wallabies outside back Cameron Shepherd has delivered a blunt assessment of Australia’s attacking identity, suggesting the real frustration isn’t the results themselves – but how the national team is playing in those defeats.
In last weekend’s Quilter Nations Series clash with France in Saint-Denis, the Wallabies went into the break level at 19-all on the scoreboard. It was an inspired, vastly improved first-half performance that had Australian supporters daring to dream of an upset.
Thomas Ramos and Louis Bielle-Biarrey helped Les Bleus run away with a 48-33 win at Stade de France, during a clinical second term in favour of the home side. With that result, unwanted records began to tumble.
The Wallabies failed to win a Test during a four-game European tour for the first time since 1958, and it’s also the first time in 126 years that they’ve lost 10 Tests in a calendar year. It was a gruelling international season for the Aussies, and one that started with such promise.
After defeating the British & Irish Lions in Sydney and the Springboks in Johannesburg, the Wallabies won two of their next 10. There were moments of brilliance even in defeat, but results aside, Shepherd explained why “it’s not the best” the men in gold can play.
“What’s the frustration? Just losses? You can’t just go, ‘oh I’m angry that they lost on the weekend’… the Wallabies are playing a really good brand of rugby and we’re losing, I can live with that,” Shepherd said on Stan Sport’s Between Two Posts.
“But at the moment, I’m watching them play and I’m frustrated because I’m like that’s not the best that they can play. I know it’s not the best.
“Where would you put Joseph Suaalii as far as the best ball runners in the world? Like honestly, top five, top 10? He’s probably in the top 10, right, if you just put him in a one-on-one situation. He carried the ball four times on the weekend. He’s got to be carrying the ball more than that.
“We had a game recently, I think it was England, where Max Jorgensen carried the ball once in 73 minutes or something like that. That is not playing to your strengths and putting the ball in space.
“We picked Corey Toole on the wing against Italy… he’s rapid, he’s probably the quickest guy on the park. I think he touched the ball six times the whole game, and four of them he was covering back on kicks and didn’t do much with it.
“It’s the way we’re playing and I think that is what’s got me the most frustrated and I think it’s probably got the Australian public frustrated as well.”
Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt will remain in the role for the July international window in 2026, before current Queensland Reds boss Les Kiss takes over. This was announced earlier this year, during the Super Rugby Pacific season.
The Wallabies will face Ireland, France and Italy in the all-new Nations Championship before Kiss takes over, setting up two clashes with Eddie Jones’ Japan. Australia will also face South Africa and New Zealand on home soil before their Spring Tour.
“I don’t know if you can just expect that to change instantly next year and if that will become more consistent,” Shepherd added.
“I think it is time for something new. It’s not an attack on Joe but I feel like it’s time for some fresh eyes on the Wallaby attack.
“Next year, with Les coming in, and building towards the 2027 World Cup, it’s going to be a good time to bring a new coach in with a group that is a lot more settled, and just try and do something a little bit different.”