Joe Schmidt: World Cup pool games will spring a surprise somewhere

Schmidt will be Wallabies head coach for their first three games of 2026 but will then hand the reins to Les Kiss

Joe Schmidt has coached at three Rugby World Cups. Pic: ©INPHO/Nick Elliott

Ireland will be happy with the outcome of Wednesday morning’s 2027 Rugby World Cup pool draw but Joe Schmidt has served an early reminder as to just how best-laid plans can go awry when it comes to the competition itself.

The current Wallabies head coach could have pointed to how his top-ranked Ireland side was upset by Japan at the 2019 tournament when losing a pool game in Shizuoka. He didn’t. Maybe that one is still a bit too raw.