In the wake of a nail-biting 26-28 defeat to Argentina in the Rugby Championship, Joe Schmidt, the Wallabies' coach, has weighed in on Tane Edmed's debut as a starter. With Tom Lynagh sidelined and James O’Connor benched, the spotlight was squarely on 25-year-old Edmed who wore the No.10 jersey. Despite a rocky start marked by a charge-down that led to Argentina's sole try, Edmed managed to showcase his resilience and skills throughout his 56-minute stint on the field.
Edmed's performance was a mixed bag of solid passing and kicking, marred early by a tactical error leading to a try against his team. Schmidt commented,
“I thought it was solid. It's tough out there, especially when errors are made and you're immediately back on defense or chasing a turnover attack,”
highlighting the challenges faced by the young player. Despite this, Edmed did execute a successful 50:22 kick, momentarily shifting the momentum in favor of the Wallabies.
The match also spotlighted the return of James O’Connor, who came on when Australia was trailing significantly. Schmidt expressed the value O’Connor brings with his experience, hinting at discussions about O’Connor’s immediate future with the Wallabies amidst his impending move to Leicester.
“We’ve got three very inexperienced 10s...how do you get experience?”
Schmidt pondered, emphasizing the blend of experience and new talent in the team’s strategy.
Looking ahead, Schmidt isn’t discounting the Wallabies' chances against the All Blacks at Eden Park, despite the daunting history of the venue and the recent loss. He remains optimistic, spurred by the team's ability to upset the Springboks earlier in the season. “We have got to believe because if you don’t believe you are beaten before you try,” Schmidt asserted, signaling a fighting spirit that he hopes will lead to a turnaround in the forthcoming clash.
In reflection, Schmidt conveyed disappointment over the team's performance against Argentina, citing numerous errors and missed opportunities despite dominating certain statistics. “We didn’t win the battle in the air,” he lamented, indicating areas for improvement in future matchups.
As the Wallabies regroup and refocus, the blend of emerging talents like Edmed and seasoned players like O’Connor will be crucial. Schmidt’s strategic insights and leadership will be tested at Eden Park, a venue that demands the best from any team daring enough to challenge the All Blacks on their hallowed ground.
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In the wake of a nail-biting 26-28 defeat to Argentina in the Rugby Championship, Joe Schmidt, the Wallabies' coach, has weighed in on Tane Edmed's debut as a starter. With Tom Lynagh sidelined and James O’Connor benched, the spotlight was squarely on 25-year-old Edmed who wore the No.10 jersey. Despite a rocky start marked by a charge-down that led to Argentina's sole try, Edmed managed to showcase his resilience and skills throughout his 56-minute stint on the field.
Edmed's performance was a mixed bag of solid passing and kicking, marred early by a tactical error leading to a try against his team. Schmidt commented,
“I thought it was solid. It's tough out there, especially when errors are made and you're immediately back on defense or chasing a turnover attack,”
highlighting the challenges faced by the young player. Despite this, Edmed did execute a successful 50:22 kick, momentarily shifting the momentum in favor of the Wallabies.The match also spotlighted the return of James O’Connor, who came on when Australia was trailing significantly. Schmidt expressed the value O’Connor brings with his experience, hinting at discussions about O’Connor’s immediate future with the Wallabies amidst his impending move to Leicester.
“We’ve got three very inexperienced 10s...how do you get experience?”
Schmidt pondered, emphasizing the blend of experience and new talent in the team’s strategy.Looking ahead, Schmidt isn’t discounting the Wallabies' chances against the All Blacks at Eden Park, despite the daunting history of the venue and the recent loss. He remains optimistic, spurred by the team's ability to upset the Springboks earlier in the season. “We have got to believe because if you don’t believe you are beaten before you try,” Schmidt asserted, signaling a fighting spirit that he hopes will lead to a turnaround in the forthcoming clash.
In reflection, Schmidt conveyed disappointment over the team's performance against Argentina, citing numerous errors and missed opportunities despite dominating certain statistics. “We didn’t win the battle in the air,” he lamented, indicating areas for improvement in future matchups.
As the Wallabies regroup and refocus, the blend of emerging talents like Edmed and seasoned players like O’Connor will be crucial. Schmidt’s strategic insights and leadership will be tested at Eden Park, a venue that demands the best from any team daring enough to challenge the All Blacks on their hallowed ground.