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Kangaroos coach Schmidt sticks with long-term plan after Springbok thrashing

Broadcast United News Desk
Kangaroos coach Schmidt sticks with long-term plan after Springbok thrashing

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Australia head coach Joe Schmidt says he will not make radical changes to his team and remains confident in his long-term plans despite their shock defeat to South Africa in their opening Rugby Championship match on Saturday.

Australia were beaten 33-7 by the World Cup champions in Brisbane, with Schmidt suffering his first defeat since taking charge of the team at the start of the year.

The two sides meet again in Perth on Saturday, with former Ireland coach Schmidt hoping his side can improve, although he will be without winger Filippo Daugunu, who fractured his fibula against the Springboks, and locks Nick Frost and Jeremy Williams, both with concussion.

Josh Canham, Sam Carter and Tom Robertson have been called up to the squad.

“I think some guys will improve their performance, maybe not in time by next Saturday, but we do need to have a long-term plan,” Schmidt said.

“We have a much younger squad than South Africa. We have far fewer caps and far less experience, so I believe if we make too many adjustments and changes it will be difficult to build cohesion.”

“Because when you’re in a game like this, you’re very interdependent and you have to make sure everybody knows their role and is ready to play their role.”

Schmidt praised new national team members Carlo Tizzano and Luke Lemmer, who will go up against an experienced South African team that includes several players who have won back-to-back World Cup titles.

“I thought Carlo Tizzano played very well today, very well,” Schmidt said. “But it would have been even better if Fraser McReight had played as well.”

“Luke Reimer comes off the bench. There are players who will take their chances and get better, two players making their Test debuts against Sia Kolisi, Kwaja Smith and Peter-Stephen du Toit.

“I’m a realist. I know you can’t just beat those guys and come out and surpass them. But you have to make yourself better next week.”

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