Wallabies’ brutal approach to discipline problem
Murray Wenzel |
Joe Schmidt has imparted some of his own refereeing torture on the Wallabies in an effort to “be cleaner than clean” against the masters of rugby discipline France in Brisbane.
Australia gave away 11 penalties in their own half and 12 in total against Ireland in Sydney, caught offside and infringing around the ruck in a gutting 33-31 loss.
For context, France gave up just six penalties per game on average on their way to a successful Six Nations championship defence this year.
Ill-discipline has remained an issue for Schmidt’s eighth-ranked side as he prepares to coach them for the second-last time, after which Les Kiss will inherit the duties.
He’s hopeful discipline will improve before that transition, taking things up a notch at Tuesday’s training when Australian referee Nic Berry was invited to blow the whistle.
“We had Bez in and I told him, ‘Just find someone and penalise them’,” Schmidt said.
“And he was like, ‘Are you sure?’
“And I said, ‘Yeah, that’s what happens on Saturdays’, so we can be cleaner than clean.”
English referee Karl Dixon, who ran the touchline in Sydney, will control Saturday’s Brisbane fixture.
“He’s going to want us to be really disciplined, and we have to try and help with that,” Schmidt said.
Schmidt was battling a nasty cough and losing his voice on Thursday, perhaps hoarse from cheering on Laurie Daley after meeting the NSW Blues coach for a coffee on the morning of their State of Origin triumph in Brisbane.
The pair were introduced by Blues and Melbourne Storm football manager Frank Ponissi.
“No, no,” Schmidt said when asked if he could take any credit for the Blues’ upset win.
“You’re always trying to share a few ideas and he’s a Raiders legend. Watching that game last night, it was pretty impressive.
“Known Frank for a long time, and Laurie’s got to be a good man, he’s got a New Zealand wife.”
AAP