‘There's not real confidence': Schmidt admits Wallaby worries after Fiji scare
In another question about whether he had confidence the Wallabies could beat the Lions, Schmidt said: 'I'm not a really confident sort of person. There's not real confidence, but there's a quiet resolve.
'And that quiet resolve, hopefully over the three match series can build to something that will earn us the support of a very interested group.'
Schmidt said the Wallabies had suffered from an inability to finish off their scoring opportunities, and build pressure on the Fijians via a steadily climbing scoreboard. He cited two crooked lineout throws when on the Fijians' line that could have seen the Wallabies push their lead out further.
'We've got to iron those out to be super accurate because if you don't nail your opportunities you don't get to build that scoreboard pressure. As long as they believe, well, there's a way for them because they're so athletic,' Schmidt said.
'We didn't quite feel that we got reward for our scrum. I thought our scrum was really good. Didn't quite get that reward for the line-out, as I mentioned, but they're things that we'll be working really hard on.
'Obviously, we got pulled back for two forward passes and that's a skill execution thing we need to take responsibility for and be more accurate with. If you put those four things together, you're already in a lot stronger position in terms of controlling the result, at least.'
Schmidt said he expected some rustiness, and given a short preparation, Schmidt downplayed some of the problems in connection and fluidity that seemed to arise.
'We haven't been together for six months and to have five trainings and to be seamless, that would be an expectation that I hoped for rather than believed would immediately happen,' Schmidt said.
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'So now we have another short runway to try and improve from where we were today.'
After Fiji coach Mick Byrne indicated post-game that his side had fed off the disrespect of people framing it as a 'warm-up game' for the Wallabies ahead the Lions, Schmidt conceded there may have been some attention leakage, with Australia looking a little around the corner as well at the Fiji challenge.
'It is inevitable to a degree. Sometimes you try to talk yourself into something and try to narrow the focus but inevitably we were watching the game last night with the Waratahs playing the Lions. We watched as a team when the Reds played them as well,' he said.
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Veteran halfback Nic White was happy with the win but not the performance after the Wallabies' preparation for the British and Irish Lions was almost derailed by Fiji. A last-ditch try by skipper Harry Wilson saved Australia's blushes in Newcastle with a 21-18 victory ensuring they won't head into their three-Test series against the Lions on the back of an embarrassing loss. But Joe Schmidt's men still have a ton of work and little time before their July 19 opener in Brisbane. Their error tally, aimless kicking and missed tackles on Saturday are a major concern as they take on the best of the four nations. "Stoked with the win, not the performance," said a relieved White, who came off the bench to replacing starting No.9 Tate McDermott. "There were moments where we were really good and there were moments where we just missed a few things and things we can control, and that's the disappointing thing. 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"Stoked with the win, not the performance," said a relieved White, who came off the bench to replacing starting No.9 Tate McDermott. "There were moments where we were really good and there were moments where we just missed a few things and things we can control, and that's the disappointing thing. "We'll deep dive into that, get into our review ... first and foremost is finding out what we didn't do right within the way we wanted to play the game and then fix that. "We've got a bit of time together after that and we've got a bit of work to do. "We'll get that right and give ourselves a chance of getting a result." Asked if the Wallabies were confident of upsetting the Lions, White replied "definitely". With Fiji beating them in their last Test, at the 2023 Rugby World Cup, and sitting only one spot behind Australia at nine in the world rankings, White said the Pacific Islanders presented as a formidable opponent. "Fiji bringing plenty of physical pressure and then also obviously big game pressure and fatigue pressure," the 35-year-old said. "They're a good side and we had to find a way to win there." Superstar recruit Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii didn't get much time and space with the ball at centre while the Wallabies didn't use his aerial prowess to their advantage. White defended the former NRL gun's contribution. "Sometimes he's going to attract some attention and open up space for others and some games there will be space for him but I thought he did his job really well ... and that's just how the game goes sometimes," White said. The Wallabies' squad for the Lions series will be named on Friday in Brisbane and star forwards Will Skelton and Rob Valetini, who missed the Fiji Test through injury, are expected to be available. Waratahs halfback Jake Gordon and Reds playmaker Tom Lynagh, who also sat out the Fiji match, will be back in contention for the Lions. The Wallabies lost hooker Dave Porecki, who hadn't played a Test match since the World Cup due to injury, to a head knock. He has a history of concussion which could impact on his chances of playing against the Lions. No.10 Noah Lolesio was stretchered off in the second half, but was cleared of serious injury. Veteran playmaker James O'Connor missed squad selection for Fiji and his chances of making the list for the Lions didn't seem to improve despite Lolesio's injury and poor game. Coach Schmidt felt Ben Donaldson did a solid job after replacing Lolesio while Lynagh has also been training with the squad after recovering from a hand injury. Veteran halfback Nic White was happy with the win but not the performance after the Wallabies' preparation for the British and Irish Lions was almost derailed by Fiji. A last-ditch try by skipper Harry Wilson saved Australia's blushes in Newcastle with a 21-18 victory ensuring they won't head into their three-Test series against the Lions on the back of an embarrassing loss. But Joe Schmidt's men still have a ton of work and little time before their July 19 opener in Brisbane. Their error tally, aimless kicking and missed tackles on Saturday are a major concern as they take on the best of the four nations. "Stoked with the win, not the performance," said a relieved White, who came off the bench to replacing starting No.9 Tate McDermott. "There were moments where we were really good and there were moments where we just missed a few things and things we can control, and that's the disappointing thing. "We'll deep dive into that, get into our review ... first and foremost is finding out what we didn't do right within the way we wanted to play the game and then fix that. "We've got a bit of time together after that and we've got a bit of work to do. "We'll get that right and give ourselves a chance of getting a result." Asked if the Wallabies were confident of upsetting the Lions, White replied "definitely". With Fiji beating them in their last Test, at the 2023 Rugby World Cup, and sitting only one spot behind Australia at nine in the world rankings, White said the Pacific Islanders presented as a formidable opponent. "Fiji bringing plenty of physical pressure and then also obviously big game pressure and fatigue pressure," the 35-year-old said. "They're a good side and we had to find a way to win there." Superstar recruit Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii didn't get much time and space with the ball at centre while the Wallabies didn't use his aerial prowess to their advantage. White defended the former NRL gun's contribution. "Sometimes he's going to attract some attention and open up space for others and some games there will be space for him but I thought he did his job really well ... and that's just how the game goes sometimes," White said. The Wallabies' squad for the Lions series will be named on Friday in Brisbane and star forwards Will Skelton and Rob Valetini, who missed the Fiji Test through injury, are expected to be available. Waratahs halfback Jake Gordon and Reds playmaker Tom Lynagh, who also sat out the Fiji match, will be back in contention for the Lions. The Wallabies lost hooker Dave Porecki, who hadn't played a Test match since the World Cup due to injury, to a head knock. He has a history of concussion which could impact on his chances of playing against the Lions. No.10 Noah Lolesio was stretchered off in the second half, but was cleared of serious injury. Veteran playmaker James O'Connor missed squad selection for Fiji and his chances of making the list for the Lions didn't seem to improve despite Lolesio's injury and poor game. Coach Schmidt felt Ben Donaldson did a solid job after replacing Lolesio while Lynagh has also been training with the squad after recovering from a hand injury.
