Schmidt says Wallabies must hit the ground running in Melbourne
They were slow off the mark, conceding a converted try in the eighth minute, and chased the game for much of the first-half.
Another early lapse soon the restart saw them slump 24-5 behind before a gutsy fightback ensured they will take some confidence into Melbourne next weekend.
"We've got to keep learning fast and hit the ground running next week. Otherwise it becomes a dead rubber in Sydney," Schmidt said, referring to the third and final Test.
"Inevitably you're desperate to keep the series alive and I know that the Lions will want to close it out in Melbourne. So Melbourne is going to be massive for both teams."
Schmidt will almost certainly be making changes to his starting XV.
Experienced forwards Rob Valetini and Will Skelton are fit again and are in line to replace Nick Champion de Crespigny and either Jeremy Williams or Nick Frost.
Australia were also noticeably better in the second-half when scrum-half Tate McDermott came off the bench and Angus Bell was installed at loosehead prop, with a case to be made for their inclusion.
"I felt the bench added value when they came on. In that last 20 to 25 minutes, we did get a bit of momentum, and we weren't far away," said Schmidt.
But with the Lions battle-hardened after winning all six games of their Australia tour so far, the Wallabies know they must lift their level considerably to have any hope of causing an upset at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.
"I do think if we can just improve our accuracy, it will help us to be competitive," said Schmidt.
"They've got strength and depth, and they came with a plan that they got the better of us in the first quarter, and we've got to start more strongly next week.
"There's very much some of our collision area work has to be better, just because we know they're coming so hard there.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
France 24
an hour ago
- France 24
Australia rugby boss seeks answers on controversial Lions try
Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt was fuming after the game in Melbourne on Saturday, adamant that Italian official Andrea Piardi got it wrong. Australia led for 79 minutes and were on the cusp of an upset when Hugo Keenan crossed at the death to seal an epic 29-26 comeback victory and the three-match series after the Lions won the first Test in Brisbane. Schmidt was adamant the try should not have stood, citing a high clean-out in the lead-up by Welsh flanker Jac Morgan on Carlo Tizzano. World Rugby rules state that contact made above the shoulders at the ruck is not allowed. Piardi reviewed the incident and ruled there was no foul play, but Rugby Australia chief executive Waugh backed Schmidt's interpretation. "We've got the utmost respect in respecting the referee's decision," Waugh told The Australian newspaper on Monday, adding that the Lions deserved praise for their comeback win. "But I do think there's a level of accountability and explanation that needs to come with that. And we look forward to that." In his post-match comments, Schmidt said the decision "doesn't really live up to the big player safety push" being made by World Rugby. "My response is absolutely identical to Joe's comments in the press conference," said Waugh. "I played professionally for 13 years and Joe's coached professionally for 20 years and both our views, and all those organisationally, are very aligned with what Joe talked to in that post-match press conference. "I look forward to World Rugby's response to it." © 2025 AFP
France 24
7 hours ago
- France 24
Sundar and Jadeja follow Gill's lead as defiant India draw fourth Test with England
Record-breaking skipper Shubman Gill scored his fourth century of the campaign before Ravindra Jadeja and Washington Sundar also made hundreds as India finished on 425-4 in their second innings -- a lead of 114 runs -- inside the last hour. England remain 2-1 up in this five-match contest ahead of a quick turnaround to Thursday's start of an Oval finale. An India victory in south London would ensure a share of the spoils for Gill's men in a series where the first four Tests have all gone to the last day. Defeat, rather than a draw, looked likely when India collapsed to 0-2 in the opening over of their second innings on Saturday as Chris Woakes struck with successive deliveries following England's mammoth first-innings 669. But Gill, in on a hat-trick, went on to score 103 in a marathon seven-hour stint as he turned the tide during a stand of 188 with KL Rahul that ended before lunch on Sunday. Jadeja, reprieved first ball when Joe Root dropped a tough slip chance, went on to make 107 not out, his first century of the series following four fifties, with fellow spin-bowling all-rounder Sundar unbeaten on 101 -- his maiden Test hundred. 'Brave effort' "I am extremely pleased with our batting effort over the past couple of days," said Gill. "I think we were put under a lot of pressure, but the way we responded, especially after losing two wickets, was a very brave effort." Sundar and Jadeja's unbroken partnership of 203 on a flat pitch frustrated a toiling England, despite the best efforts of inspirational captain Ben Stokes. This match was a personal triumph for Stokes as he became just the fourth England cricketer to score a hundred and take five wickets in the same Test, his 141 on Saturday following a haul of 5-72 in India's first-innings 358. But Stokes, who insisted "pain is just an emotion", repeatedly clutched the top of his leg -- having had hamstring surgery earlier this year -- and also suffered a bicep strain. "When you put in good performances for the team, the joy is dictated by how you feel at the end of the Test and the result," said Stokes. "Obviously, I'd give the bottle of champagne and the medal (away) in a heartbeat if we were on the right side of the result." India resumed on 174-2 with KL Rahul 87 not out and Gill 78 not out. Stokes, the leading bowler on either side this series with 17 wickets at 25.23, brought himself on at the start of Sunday's play after not bowling Saturday and had obdurate opener Rahul, plumb lbw for 90 to a nip-back ball that kept low. And when Gill was caught behind off Jofra Archer, India were still not safe at 222-4. But Sundar and Jadeja, after his first ball reprieve, were largely untroubled. And even when Stokes braved the pain barrier again, Sundar pulled the England skipper for a six and a four off successive balls to reach fifty. Sunday's closing stages became a question of whether either of India's fifth-wicket duo would go to a hundred after Gill declined to take a draw immediately at the start of the last hour when Sundar was 80 not out and Jadeja unbeaten on 89. The match ended in farcical circumstances when batsman Harry Brook came on to bowl. Jadeja smashed a woeful Brook delivery for six to complete a 182-ball century before Gill's two off the Yorkshireman took him to a 206-ball hundred -- the last act of the match. "It got to that point where there was obviously only one result left on the table and I wasn't going to be risking any of my frontline bowlers, especially with a quick turnaround," said Stokes. Sundar and Jadeja received some verbal abuse from England fielders for carrying on towards the three-figure landmark, with Stokes telling reporters: "That partnership was massive, they played incredibly well and I don't think there would have been too much more satisfaction at walking off 100 not out than 80 or 90." © 2025 AFP
France 24
8 hours ago
- France 24
Piastri turns personal disappointment into motivation to win at Spa
The 24-year-old Australian was disappointed with himself on Saturday when he was beaten by title rival and McLaren team-mate Lando Norris in qualifying for Sunday's race, but he turned the tables with a masterly lap one passing move after a rolling start on a damp track. He then hung on and, after pitting to switch from intermediates to slicks, he managed his medium compound tyres perfectly to stay ahead of Norris, running on a more durable hard tyre, in the closing stages to win and extend his lead in the title race to 16 points. "I knew lap one was going to be probably my best chance of winning the race," said Piastri. "I got a good exit out of Turn One and then lifted a little as I dipped through Eau Rouge and it was enough. "The rest of the race we managed really well. I was struggling a bit at the end -- so maybe the medium wasn't the best for the last five or six laps, but we had it mostly under control, which is what I wanted. "I was pretty disappointed with myself after yesterday, but it turns out starting second in Spa isn't too bad after all!" He added that he was concerned that the rolling start, after four laps behind the Safety Car, would reduce his chance to grab the initiative, but showed he was sharp and focussed by taking advantage of Norris at the first opportunity. "I got a good exit out of Turn One and was able to stay close and then, when I was going close, I just knew I was going to lift a little bit less than Lando (Norris) did and try and keep it on the track. "It was a bit lively up over the hill, but I managed to make it stick and then, from there, the tow helped me out." 'Difficult conditions' He said he knew that tyre strategy was going to be critical and expected Norris's decision to take hard tyres – the only driver to do so when all the rest went for mediums. "I had the same plan, if I was going to be second, so I kind of knew that was going to be a likely decision for Lando. For me, medium was the safest tyre to be on at that point. "You never know if someone is going to crash and there's a Safety Car and you want a medium for the restart. Also, the medium seemed pretty good in the sprint yesterday so I think it didn't make too much difference. "But when you're fighting like that, one-two, you're always going to try and get an advantage in one way or another." Norris admitted he had not done enough to win the race as he slipped 16 points behind Piastri in the championship after 13 of the 24 races. "He had a better start and he deserved it today," said Norris, who made three mistakes in the difficult conditions. "It's should-a, would-a, could-a…. Oscar deserved it. I'm sure he would have made a couple of mistakes too and I'll review my own. It's a great result for the team our first 1-2 here in many years." It was McLaren's first Belgian triumph since Jenson Button won from pole in 2012. © 2025 AFP
