Gordon D’Arcy, a former Ireland midfielder, has disclosed the one quality that a Wallabies player must possess to
succeed under Joe Schmidt.
After leading the All Blacks to a recent Rugby
World Cup second-place result, the former Irish
head coach has now taken on the difficult task of
revitalizing flagging Australia. This difficult task
will pay off when the Wallabies face the British
and Irish Lions in 2025.
D’Arcy was shocked by the Kiwi Schmidt’s choice
to move to Australia, but he thinks the time is
right for the New Zealander to leave his stamp on the game on the other side of the Tasman.
“As Ireland’s and Leinster’s most successful coach, I believe Schmidt now has the potential to revolutionize rugby in
Australia,” the former center said in his monthly Irish Times column.
It’s mostly what he accomplished in Ireland, and although it’s risky for some to judge him based only on the final
nine months of his job, I witnessed personally how his style changed over time, starting in the early days in Leinster,
where the timeless expression “attention to detail” first appeared.
D’Arcy continued by outlining the conditions for a Wallaby player to succeed in a team managed by Schmidt. “You
have to challenge Joe both on and off the field all the time as a player to succeed under him,” the player said.
“As a player, that means having enough self-assurance in your abilities to not only follow the playbook but also take a
chance when the opportunity arises. Finding game-changing moments requires the defense to be able to change up
their tactics, which is rarely the case in the training field.
“While Australian rugby has talent, it takes more than just clever set-plays and tactical planning to succeed at the
highest levels. It involves mentoring both the player and the person in support of the player. Too many coaches, in
my opinion, have strayed toward the security of numbers. Similar to playing, coaching is all about the atmosphere of
the game and the playing group.
“I don’t think Joe is a coach who depends solely on results. He will provide
his distinct style to rugby in Australia. This may be a very beneficial
collaboration as long as the players maintain their joie de vivre and keep
pushing the boundaries. There will be structure and careful attention to
detail.
“Australian rugby is at a standstill. There are some excellent players there, and perhaps—just possibly—the timing is
ideal for a coach like Joe once more. The 2025 Lions tour has significantly increased in intrigue.
