Breakdown key to Schmidt’s ambition

AUTUMN INTERNATIONAL:

Both sides are under new management, with Schmidt succeeding Declan Kidney at the end of last season, and Ewen McKenzie taking charge of the Wallabies in mid-July following their series loss to the British & Irish Lions under Robbie Deans.

Yet while this is just Schmidt’s second game at the Irish helm, McKenzie has had plenty of time to get his feet under the table as Australia have slogged their way through an arduous Rugby Championship campaign with only wins over Argentina and a third Bledisloe Cup loss of the year with the All Blacks. Now they are at the midway point in a five-game European tour that has so far seen a narrow defeat by England and a convincing win over Italy.