Lack of depth in selection could trip up Schmidt once again

Australia head coach Joe Schmidt during a media conference at the Intercontinental Double Bay in Sydney, Australia. Pic: Brendan Moran/Sportsfile

Joe Schmidt might be one of the great on-field coaches, but a great selector he is not.

In fact, despite Thursday being the most beautiful day in the Harbour City since touching down from Ireland, Andy Farrell will have been quietly feeling even warmer inside after seeing his side for Saturday’s Nations Championship in Sydney.

Farrell spoke glowingly of the Wallabies’ side on Thursday from his team hotel in Sydney’s CBD.

He spoke of the amazing athletes and cattle existing in Australian rugby, and the threat of the midfield and the back-row.

But the Lions series wasn’t won and lost in the back-row last year despite Tadhg Beirne’s brilliant showing, it was won in the tight-five and halves, and ultimately in the second Test with the tourists’ depth.

That depth is missing in 2026 with Will Skelton – Ireland’s kryptonite and the Wallabies’ biggest man – missing.

It’s why Schmidt had to be crystal clear with his thinking when it came to rolling out his side for Saturday’s showdown with Ireland.

Was he?

The decision to leave Lukhan Salakaia-Loto out of the entire squad was certainly a big one.

It will put extra strain on the Wallabies’ already light tight-five and inexperienced second-row, especially against a proven second-row pair featuringJoe McCarthy and James Ryan.

But it would seem that Schmidt’s biggest overthought might have been on the bench.

Tom Wright, right, gives the Australians some more fullback cover, but it may not be necessary. Pic: Tom Maher/Inpho

With Jock Campbell at fullback, winger Max Jorgensen more than capable of playing in the role having finished the international year in the role, and Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii spending time at fullback for the Waratahs last year, Schmidt didn’t really need to have more fullback cover.

That, however, didn’t stop Schmidt from picking Tom Wright – the Wallabies’ regular fullback – on the bench.

Yet, making the selection all the more strange was that playmaker Ben Donaldson, who wore the No.15 jersey at the 2023 World Cup, was also selected.

Meanwhile, Schmidt didn’t include any midfield cover on the bench, while none of Australia’s outside backs have ever lined up in the roles.

Schmidt stated that Wright would cover outside centre, but the outside back has never played in the midfield. Might playmaker Carter Gordon not shift to the midfield instead, as he did against Argentina in 2023?

Even still, the decision to look past Filipo Daugunu was a head-scratcher after the Reds utility back was one of Australia's best in 2026.

In fact, it was a no-brainer to select him in the No.23 jersey, especially with Donaldson’s ability to play fullback.

The decision to select Wright smacked of a coach overcomplicating the simple.

It also reinforced David Nucifora’s view from last year that Schmidt could get in his own head.

“We all understand he’s a very sharp mind, a very deep thinker about the game. Sometimes, if you think too deeply, you’ll confuse yourself,” Nucifora said ahead of the Lions series.

Has Schmidt tripped up on himself again?

On the eve of the Wallabies’ first Test of the year, a match that could set the tone of Australia’s year and define Schmidt’s legacy with his adopted country, it would seem he has.