Schmidt-ball: Wallabies coach’s Australian project shows signs of bearing fruit

There was a degree of flair in the second of two wins over Wales, but other winning traits were in evidence which point to progress being made

Australia teammates pose with their trophy after defeating Wales in their rugby union test match and two-game series in Melbourne. Picture: Asanka Brendon Ratnayake/AP

IF you’re looking for evidence that this so-called new era of Australian rugby might actually deliver on its promise, it came in the 13th minute as the Wallabies set up camp inside the Wales 22. Five minutes earlier, Filipo Daugunu scored a blockbuster try that stretched the length of the pitch, involved individual brilliance, over-the-top risk and a fortunate bounce of the ball. In short, it looked great on replays but is not something a meticulous coach like Joe Schmidt would want to see too often.

Instead he’ll point to the passage of play shortly after as a sign that his project is starting to bear fruit. With a penalty advantage and within striking distance of the Welsh line, Australia kept it short and cycled through 22 phases as Jake Gordon delivered neat passes to runners off his shoulder and forced Welsh defenders to make tackle after tackle after tackle. This is a hallmark of Schmidt-ball which saw him win three Six Nations crowns with Ireland and two European Championships with Leinster. And though James Slipper, captaining the side in his 136th Test, knocked on, momentum was with them and Noah Lolesio’s boot added three points to the score.