- Joe Schmidt isn’t letting his Wallabies side ‘off the hook’ their loss this weekend
- Australia were beaten 27-13 by Scotland, ending their Grand Slam hopes
- He has urged his side to finish this summer’s tour on a high vs Ireland
Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt is refusing to let his players ‘off the hook’ as they continue to change ‘behaviours’ ahead of this weekend’s Test against Ireland in Dublin.
After wins over England and Wales, Australia’s hopes of completing the Grand Slam ended with a 27-13 loss to Scotland at Murrayfield on Monday morning.
However, the Wallabies are determined to finish their spring tour on a high and ensure confidence continues to build ahead of next year’s British and Irish Lions tour of Australia.
‘We just want to show our improvement and how hungry we are to develop as a team and show the public and also ourselves how good a team we could be,’ Wallabies halfback Jake Gordon said.
‘We’re probably pretty disappointed with the game over the weekend (against Scotland). I thought we, I wouldn’t say went backwards but definitely weren’t where we thought we needed to be for that game. We really want to finish the tour well.
‘It’s a great opportunity this weekend against a really great, strong Irish team to play some really good rugby, and we’re excited for the occasion.’
Gordon praised Schmidt – a former Ireland coach – and the rest of Australia’s coaching staff for the ‘great job’ they were doing.
‘With Joe, (he is) very detailed around the game. We had some behaviours that we needed to change and be consistent with, and he definitely hasn’t left us off the hook in those areas,’ Gordon said.
‘It’s been awesome. You’re starting to see some of our game coming together and being more consistent throughout the tour, around how we can retain possession, some of our starter plays in attack and the whole game.
‘That goes back to our whole coaching staff. They’re doing a great job preparing us.’
Gordon also lauded the progress of rugby league convert Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii.
The former Sydney Roosters star injured his wrist in Australia’s loss to Scotland but may yet play against Ireland on Sunday morning (AEDT).
‘His adjustments have been unreal. He’s looked right at home, and he’s also a guy who’s really keen to learn as well,’ Gordon said.
‘He came into the environment, spends a lot of time learning the detail around rugby, and I’m happy for him to be at the Waratahs with me next year as well.’
