Joe Schmidt opens up on surprising move to lead Wallabies after Eddie Jones exit

A respected voice and mind in the game, Schmidt would not have been short on offers after leaving his role with the All Blacks after the 2023 Rugby World Cup.

The 58-year-old is renowned for his success with Ireland, guiding them to the top of the world rankings for the first time in 2019 and their historic victories over the All Blacks. He also enjoyed success with Clermont, Leinster, and after leaving Ireland after the 2019 World Cup with the Blues and All Blacks.

However, since leaving Ireland, he has not held a head coach position until now as he wished to help out with his son, who suffers from epilepsy.

While he has been linked with several vacancies in the past, Schmidt has now taken up the challenge of turning Australia around after their worst-ever World Cup performance.

"I thought it was a good opportunity to try to pitch in and get Australia up and running because the World Cup was not an Australian team that I recognised, certainly not from my time coming here last time with the Irish in 2018, it was a super contest right through the three tests," Schmidt told reporters at the press conference unveiling him as head coach.

"I'm a little bit surprised that I'm here, I thought I had retired when I went back to New Zealand, but I'm very poor at doing that, having been involved with the Blues and the All Blacks since then, and I'm pretty excited; this is a really unique challenge."

Australia's poor showing in France last year played a major role in Schmidt's decision to take on the challenge of coaching the Wallabies.

"I'm desperate for the Wallabies to be competitive and if I can help, that's why I'm here. I think the global rugby family is desperate for the Wallabies to be where they need to be," he added.

"The British and Irish Lions want to have a fantastic series, so we want to build toward that and give them exactly what they want and not make anything easy for them.

"Two years after that, we have got a home World Cup, and I'm desperate that the Wallabies are really competitive in that World Cup, and we want to get through to those competitive playoff rounds."

Schmidt said he is looking forward to starting in the role after a slump in Australian rugby in recent years.

He said: "I am conscious that the Wallabies have weathered a difficult period, and I am keen to help them build a way forward, with greater alignment and clear direction from RA.

"The upcoming Test matches against Wales will arrive quickly, post-Super Rugby, and the program through to the British and Irish Lions Tour next year presents plenty of opportunities and challenges - which I am sure will invigorate players and staff."

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