Matt Williams: Wallabies have ‘fallen off a cliff’ as ‘monster’ Rugby World Cup job has led to ‘desperate measures’ from Joe Schmidt
Matt Williams on Wallabies' dip in form.
Former Scotland head coach Matt Williams admits the Wallabies face a “monster” task if they are to seal a top seed place ahead of the 2027 Rugby World Cup draw.
Defeat to Italy over the weekend has left Australia with a mountain to climb in their quest to be in the leading six positions of World Rugby’s rankings after November.
Being in those spots would secure a preferential draw at the Rugby World Cup on home soil, which means they simply must win at least one of their remaining Tests.
Ireland and France to come
Next up for the Wallabies this Saturday is a trip to Dublin to face Ireland before they round out their Autumn Nations Series schedule with a fixture against France.
Speaking on Off The Ball, Williams was asked whether that’s a big ask for Joe Schmidt’s men and the now pundit did not sugar-coat just how tough this task will be.
“That sounds like a monster,” he said before wondering how things have unravelled so much after their solid end to the Lions series and early Rugby Championship.
“For a season that started out with so much positivity and excellent play and wonderful results, it hasn’t just been disappointing; they’ve fallen off a cliff. They have been outright poor the last few games.”
Williams has highlighted one area where Schmidt and the Wallabies haven’t helped themselves, as he believes that overly rotating their half-backs has led to instability.
“The Wallabies have used five different out-halves and four different scrum-halves across this one season, and that is impossible to get any cohesion with your attack with that,” he explained.
That’s coincided with veteran fly-half James O’Connor being called up to the squad this week from his club side, Leicester Tigers, a decision Williams had a view on.
On the ropes
“Desperate times, desperate measures,” he stressed over the O’Connor recall.
“They’re on the ropes. They’ve got no choice.
“So again, this isn’t planning for the future when you bring in the 35-year-old. This is trying to scrape a win in the next two games.”
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