Schmidt is set to leave Australia at the end of the current Rugby Championship campaign
By Ciaron Noble
Australia kicked off their 2025 Rugby Championship campaign with a remarkable 38-22 comeback victory away to South Africa over the weekend. Australian head coach Joe Schmidt has received deserved praise for the job he has done with the team since taking over in late 2023.
The Springboks came out of the traps quickly, racing into an early 22-0 lead courtesy of tries from Kurt-Lee Arendse, Andre Esterhuizen and Siya Kolisi, along with a Libbok penalty. It looked as if it was going to be another convincing victory for Rassie Erasmus’s charges.
However, the Wallabies produced one of their greatest ever performances to topple the world champions.
The victory means Schmidt is the only coach to win a Test match in South Africa with two different countries, having beaten the Springboks with Ireland in 2016.
The fightback began just before the half-hour mark when winger Dylan Pietch ran in their first try of the day.
Their captain, Harry Wilson, was central to their success. The number eight scored his first of two tries when he stormed onto the ball to touch down just two minutes into the second half.
The Aussies found another gear in the second half, playing at speed and with real intensity. The influence of the experienced James O’Connor at out-half was telling. Joseph Suaalii pounced with the intercept to get their third of the day. The conversion reduced the deficit to just three points.
After a speedy break, Tom Wright combined with Wilson to put him away for his second try, launching the visitors into the lead for the first time. Max Jorgensen strolled in unchallenged to extend their advantage before a brilliant solo effort from Wright capped off Australia’s terrific triumph.
It was the first time Australia had won at Ellis Park since 1963, and added another fine stat to Schmidt’s growing CV of achievements. The performance was celebrated online with some branding it as ‘Australia’s greatest win’ and Schmidt as ‘the best coach in the world’.
Schmidt, who led Ireland to three Six Nations titles, including one Grand Slam in 2018, is set to leave his role with Australia at the end of the current Rugby Championship campaign. He will be replaced by former Ulster Director of Rugby Les Kiss.
Australia will do battle with South Africa again on Saturday at DHL Stadium. In the other game, New Zealand put in a convincing display to beat Argentina 24-41.
