Joe Schmidt said the Wallabies became a good team but failed to reach perfection as he concluded his tenure as coach on Monday [1].
Schmidt's departure marks the end of a strategic period for the Australian national rugby union team. His assessment of the squad's progress provides a benchmark for the next coaching regime as the team seeks to elevate its standing in international competition.
Speaking on his final day in office, Schmidt said he reflected on the trajectory of the team during his leadership [1]. He noted that while the squad achieved a high level of competence, they did not reach the elite standard required for total dominance. "We got good … we never got near perfect," Schmidt said [1].
The outgoing coach discussed the achievements of the team alongside lingering regrets about the gap between their current form and an ideal performance [1]. This candid evaluation highlights the difficulty of transitioning a national team from a competitive state to a championship-caliber one.
Schmidt's tenure focused on systemic improvements, and player development. By acknowledging that the team remained short of perfection, he suggests that the foundation is now in place for a successor to build upon — provided the next phase of coaching can bridge that final gap [1].
Rugby Australia now faces the task of finding a leader who can translate this "good" foundation into consistent, top-tier success. The transition occurs at a critical juncture for the sport in Australia, as the national team continues to navigate the pressures of global rugby competition [1].
“"We got good … we never got near perfect."”
Schmidt's admission suggests that while the Wallabies have stabilized and improved their baseline performance, they have not yet cracked the code for consistent elite-level dominance. For Rugby Australia, this indicates that the structural work is largely complete, shifting the burden to the next coach to find the marginal gains necessary to move from 'good' to 'perfect.'
