Schmidt not tempted to stay on despite Wallabies beating Lions in tour finale
SYDNEY - Australia coach Joe Schmidt said he would be sticking to his plan to stand down next July despite his team showing some genuine promise by winning the final test against the British & Irish Lions 22-12 on Saturday.
Robbie Deans was sacked as coach after his Wallabies side lost 2-1 to the Lions in 2013 but encouraging performances during this series, capped by the third test victory, meant Schmidt was faced with questions about staying on.
Schmidt originally signed a short-term deal up until the end of the Lions series because of his desire to spend more time with his family in New Zealand and help look after his youngest son, who has severe epilepsy.
In April, he agreed to extend the deal until next July when he is scheduled to hand over the reins to Queensland Reds coach Les Kiss.
"I'm looking forward to Les Kiss coming in and taking over," the 59-year-old said when asked about extending again until the 2027 World Cup, which Australia will host.
"I actually apologise to the players. A little while ago, I bit one of their heads off, and my son had had a bad day. I can normally separate the two things, but it does impact me when he's had a bad day.
"I know that I've a short enough shelf life and need to be more present at home. I haven't been home for two months.
Top stories
Swipe. Select. Stay informed.
Singapore Police reopen access to all areas in Marina Bay after crowd congestion eases at NDP Preview area
Singapore Opening of Woodlands Health has eased load on KTPH, sets standard for future hospitals: Ong Ye Kung
Singapore $3b money laundering case: MinLaw names 6 law firms taken to task over involvement in property deals
Asia KTM plans new passenger rail service in Johor Bahru to manage higher footfall expected from RTS
Singapore HSA investigating teen allegedly vaping on MRT train
Asia 4 workers dead after falling into manhole in Japan
Singapore New vehicular bridge connecting Punggol Central and Seletar Link to open on Aug 3
Singapore New S'pore jobs portal launched for North West District residents looking for work near home
"As much as I just think they're a great group of young men. There's other things that I need to make sure I tick off."
In victory as in defeat, Schmidt is not given to hyperbolic comments about his team and he merely said that he had been impressed by how they bounced back after losing the second test, and the series, to a late try in Melbourne last week.
He also gave a little insight into the thoroughness of his preparations after Saturday's match was suspended for 40 minutes due to a lightning warning in the area.
That the Wallabies came out firing after the delay while the Lions were a bit flat was clearly no accident.
"We had been warned that there might be lightning, so we had a little bit of a plan," Schmidt said.
"We wanted to make sure that players kept moving. So we had different guys rotating onto the bikes.
"We had four balls in the changing room that we've just thrown around just so they could stay connected, and the rest of the time it was really just trying to get us organised for the restart of the game.
"The players stayed dialled in really well." REUTERS
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Straits Times
7 minutes ago
- Straits Times
Stokes remains upbeat despite England's painful loss to India
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox Cricket - International Test Match Series - Fifth Test - England v India - Kia Oval, London, Britain - August 4, 2025 England's Ben Stokes before the start of play Action Images via Reuters/Paul Childs LONDON - England captain Ben Stokes tried to focus on the positives after his team's agonising six-run loss to India in their riveting final test at The Oval on Monday. Stokes, who did not play in the match due to injury, watched on as the hosts collapsed from 301-3 to 367 all out to give India a share of the series. "Credit both teams. The amount of effort from both teams to end up here 2-2 is incredible," he told reporters. "The heart and passion and everything that was shown, especially in our second bowling innings, I thought was outstanding." Stokes, who scored a century and completed a five-wicket haul in the drawn fourth test against India, said England had been well on top at various times in the final game under the captaincy of Ollie Pope. "We got ourselves into some good positions throughout the test match, not just the last innings," he said. "To come within seven runs of victory, it's tough to look back and feel anything but disappointment." Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore Singapore launches review of economic strategy to stay ahead of global shifts Singapore A look at the five committees reviewing Singapore's economic strategy Business More support for sectors and workers vulnerable to tech disruptions, global competition Business Singapore to tap advanced manufacturing and AI under strategic review Singapore Ong Beng Seng to be sentenced on Aug 15, prosecution does not object to fine due to his poor health Singapore All recruits at BMTC will be trained to fly drones and counter them: Chan Chun Sing Singapore Pritam Singh had hoped WP would 'tip one or two more constituencies' at GE2025 Singapore SIA flight bound for Seoul returns to Singapore due to technical issues Stokes felt the loss of Chris Woakes to a shoulder injury on the first day had been a crucial factor. The all-rounder did come out to bat with a sling on to try to get England over the line but his absence along with that of Stokes and Jofra Archer left England with an inexperienced pace attack. "Losing Woakesy early on in the game changed the whole responsibility on the bowlers in particular, the roles they were selected for," added Stokes. "But you can look back on a test match that goes five days and pick out loads of moments as to why (you lost). For us, to come out here to try and chase that total down in the way that we did was outstanding." Stokes was not critical of the unorthodox or rash shots that caused the dismissals of several England batsmen as the tension mounted around the ground. Harry Brook made a brilliant 111 before playing a stroke so reckless his bat flew out of his hand, Jacob Bethell was bowled after charging down the pitch and Jamie Smith played three loose shots in a row at Mohammed Siraj, the last one nicking his bat. "That never-say-die, never-back-down attitude we've installed in the group nearly paid off for us," Stokes said. "We couldn't quite get over the line." REUTERS
Straits Times
7 minutes ago
- Straits Times
'There is no money': Argentina's Milei vetoes pension boost passed by Congress
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox FILE PHOTO: Argentina's President Javier Milei attends an event marking the 31st anniversary of the 1994 bombing attack on the Argentine Israelite Mutual Association (AMIA) community centre, in Buenos Aires, Argentina July 18, 2025. REUTERS/Mariana Nedelcu/File Photo BUENOS AIRES - Argentine President Javier Milei on Monday vetoed a pension boost and a bill strengthening protections for people with disabilities, which lawmakers had passed in July, saying that they put fiscal balance at risk. The decision to veto the bills had already been announced by Milei last month, although Congress - where the libertarian president does not have a majority - can still overturn the vetoes. The vetoes come less than three months before Argentina's mid-term elections, seen as a gauge of approval for the Milei administration, which has managed to reduce triple-digit annual inflation but whose austerity policies have had a social impact. After the publication of an executive order with the vetoes, the Argentine presidency said in a statement that the bills had been approved by Congress in an irresponsible manner, without identifying funding sources. "This president prefers to tell an uncomfortable truth rather than repeat comfortable lies: there is no money," the statement said. REUTERS
Straits Times
7 minutes ago
- Straits Times
Inspired Siraj leads India to stunning win over England
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox LONDON - Mohammed Siraj was inspired as India took the last four wickets in under an hour to bowl England out for 367 and win an astonishing fifth test by six runs to draw a remarkable series 2-2 on Monday. England had resumed on 339-6 in an atmosphere of unremitting tension at The Oval and a fired-up Siraj dismissed Jamie Smith and Jamie Overton before bowling Gus Atkinson to complete his five-wicket-haul. After Prasidh Krishna had bowled Josh Tongue for nought, Chris Woakes walked out to bat wearing a sling to protect his dislocated shoulder with 17 runs still needed. Atkinson hit Siraj for six to give England brief hope and cleverly protected Woakes from the strike, but player-of-the-match Siraj produced another brilliant yorker to earn India their narrowest-ever test win. "With 60, 70-odd runs to win with seven wickets in hand you don't get to see many games like this," India captain Shubman Gill said. "Very happy to get this over the line, a little bit of luck for us." England, 301-3 at one stage, lost their last seven wickets for 66 runs, a collapse prompted by Harry Brook's reckless dismissal after he had made a superb century. India suddenly had a chink of hope and they took full advantage, removing Jacob Bethell and Joe Root (105) before bad light and rain ended the fourth day early. PACKED OVAL England still needed 35 runs to complete their second-highest test run chase and by far the largest for any team on this ground. The Oval was full for the final act of a series that fluctuated wildly over seven weeks, and under grey skies one of the most dramatic test endings duly played out. "It has been one of the all-time best test matches," England coach Brendon McCullum said. "We turned up today with high hopes, but Mohammed Siraj and the passion of the Indian boys was too strong and ultimately they deserve to win this test match," he added. "We had our chances, we will look back on our dropped catches and the position we were in with the bat." It was fitting that Siraj was India's hero because he had stepped over the boundary cushion on Sunday after catching Brook on 19, an error that looked likely to cost his team the match. Woakes was the not out batsman having not faced a ball but running bravely in obvious pain. "I didn't expect him to come out like that, batting with one hand. Kudos to him," Gill said after his team did a lap of honour. Tensions flared on the pitch several times during the series, but the India players commiserated with Woakes at the end and both teams shook hands and embraced warmly before leaving the arena. "There are always emotions shown in the match, but at the end there is respect and admiration for your opponent," Gill said. "Both teams played magnificently in the series and I enjoyed every bit of it." REUTERS
