However, the significance of the Australia Grand Slam tour of the Home Unions this autumn cannot be underestimated, with the 2025 Lions tour only nine months away. The Lions is a rivalry as intense as it gets for Australian rugby, so there will be huge expectation from all sides ahead of the tour.
What happens against England on Saturday, and after that against Wales, Scotland, and Ireland, on consecutive November weekends will be a clear measure of how competitive the Wallabies will be against the Lions.
Schmidt's job, as with any head coach, is to connect with the Australian players in such a way that they feel they are about to embark on an amazing journey which could be the highlight of their rugby careers.
Given Schmidt's coaching record, it's unlikely that he has got the early bounce that he wanted since taking over as Wallaby coach in the summer. After a good early run with two home wins over Wales, and another against Georgia, reality struck in the Rugby Championship when Australia finished bottom of the table with five losses and only one win.
It means that Australia are now as low in the World Rankings as they have been, and add that to the huge disappointment a year ago of being knocked out of the 2023 World Cup in the pool stages for the first time, Schmidt's team is desperate for some uplift.
It also lacks household names, which is strange because during my career you could reel off the names of the players in Wallaby teams without thinking, especially after they won World Cup titles in 1991 and 1999. That applied in some measure even up to the 2015 World Cup, when Australia beat England in the pool stage before going on to reach the final.
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Denne historien er fra November 03, 2024-utgaven av The Rugby Paper.
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Sleightholme shows he has pace to burn
OLLIE Sleightholme recently clocked his fastest sprint time and is racing to cement his spot as an England starter.
McGoverne says playing for Chiefs is her priority
EXETER fly-half Olivia McGoverne has opted for club over country which will rule her out of contention for New Zealand’s World Cup bid in 2025.
Trinity aim to get the culture right
HIGH-FLYING Trinity have made a remarkable turnaround this season after narrowly avoiding relegation last term, heading into this weekend unbeaten and are now eyeing up promotion from Level 7.
YOUNG GUNS
Louie Gulley experienced the environment of England U20s’ World Championship triumph up close this summerand now has a burning desire to become an age-grade star. The 19-year-old Exeter Chiefs hooker was part of Mark Mapletoft’s squad but didn’t manage to make an appearance during the tournament.
The Cherry & Whites lay down marker over Lucs
CAMBORNE maintained their lead at the top of the table with a bonus-point win against their nearest challengers in a pulsating game.
A brace from Botterill is key to victory for Esher
A highly entertaining and enthralling contest between two sides fighting at the foot of the table was eventually won by Esher after the lead had changed no less than seven times throughout an absorbing afternoon.
Chiefs in hunt for new investment
TONY Rowe has confirmed the search for new investors into Exeter Chiefs has begun as he looks to safeguard the longterm future of the Premiership club.
McParland keen to shine for England A
NORTHAMPTON scrum-half Archie McParland feels he has returned a better player following a nasty injury that denied him a World Cup winners medal and is now ready to fly into a new opportunity with England A.
Undercard get chance to show their A-game
ENGLAND’S A team today get their first major work-out after being resurrected earlier this year when Australia’s undercard provide the opposition at The Stoop.
England look like a clueless rabble
I WATCHED with a growing sense of bewilderment as England yet again took to the field against Australia looking to all intents and purpose as if they had just been introduced to each other on the coach into Twickenham.
