Coles Talks Schmidt
Christy Doran
Editor- Roar
In a huge endorsement for new Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt, World Cup-winning All Blacks hooker Dane Coles says New Zealand would not have made last years final if it wasnt for the late arrival of his compatriot.
If he wasnt there, I dont reckon we would have got into a final without him, Coles said.
Schmidt, who took Ireland to the top of the World Rugby rankings in 2018 during his six-year tenure as head coach, was a sudden inclusion on Ian Fosters coaching ticket in mid-2022.
At that point, the All Blacks were in a state of crisis, with loud calls for Foster to be sacked after a historic home series defeat to Ireland.
It also came after a patchy 2020, where the All Blacks had suffered a first defeat to Argentina in Sydney.
The All Blacks 2-1 series defeat to Ireland turned the focus on Foster like no other New Zealand coach had felt since Graham Henrys side was bundled out in the quarter-finals of the 2007 World Cup campaign.
Needing to address the unravelling situation, New Zealand Rugby made changes to their coaching team by adding Crusaders forwards assistant Jason Ryan and Schmidt, who had been working with the Blues as a consultant.
Almost immediately the detail that was missing in the All Blacks game returned despite a few speed bumps along the way.
But the biggest indicator the All Blacks were back was in this years The Rugby Championship, where New Zealand raced out of the blocks in their opening three fixtures of the competition.
While there were questions about the All Blacks when they were smashed by the Springboks in a World Cup warm-up and then Les Bleus to open the tournament in Paris, the three-time world champions responded with brute force and made a stunning run to the final.
Ultimately, the All Blacks lost 12-11 in a gripping final to their southern hemisphere rivals, but Coles said Schmidts expectations and rugby nous was pivotal in their run.
He was big on our attack, our breakdown, said Coles, who signed a short-term deal with Kubota Spears Funabashi Tokyo Bay in Japans League One competition following the World Cup.
Hes real passionate and intense when he talks. It makes you not want to let him down.
He calls out people and puts you on the spot.
Hes just a real intense character when hes coaching and that was probably something we needed. If hes going to be the head coach, hes probably going to be even more intense. Off the field, hes a great man.
He played a massive part in us reaching that final in the World Cup.
Coles said he was surprised when he heard the news that Schmidt had accepted the Wallabies head coaching role last month.
He told me he was retiring and then he comes out as the Wallabies coach, quipped Coles, the 2015 World Cup winner.
But the former Hurricanes skipper, who joked that he had the shortest retirement in history by moving to Japan, added that Schmidt was the type of figure who could help the Wallabies re-emerge as a rugby power.
All I can say is hes a great coach. He knows the game, Coles said. Hes very hard, a lot of accountability, but hell be a great coach.
With Australia not doing to well at the World Cup, international rugby needs Aussie to be dominant like they were, so if he can do that, which Im sure hell get that team up to scratch, hell be awesome.
Its always a bit strange when you see a Kiwi coaching Aussie, but its just the way the international game is now. But I have high praise for him, hes a great coach and hell be good for the game, and its good to still see him in the game.
Schmidt is the second former All Blacks coach in six months to step inside the Wallabies camp.
It comes after Coles former head coach at two World Cup campaigns, Steve Hansen, joined Jones Wallabies side in Paris ahead of last years tournament.
After the news broke, a shellshocked Coles responded to reporters in England by asking, Shag, what are you up to?. He added: It hurts a little bit.
Once again Coles said it was a bit of a kick in the guts to see a New Zealander step inside the Australian camp.
Aussie-New Zealand, thats a great rivalry, so when you have a guy in the All Blacks environment heading over, its kind of a kick in the guts, he said.
But once you get past it and understand it, Id rather see him coaching a team because I know hes still got a lot to give and hes a great coach, so its good to see him put his hand up. It doesnt mean Im going to support him, its Aussie versus the All Blacks. Hopefully, they [the Wallabies] dont go too well.