Wallabies return from Europe winless with green shoots wilting

SYDNEY :The Australian optimism raised by test victories over the British & Irish Lions and South Africa earlier this year has been all but extinguished by two losses to the All Blacks and a winless tour of Europe in November.

Defeats at the hands of England, Italy, Ireland and France over the last four weeks make it hard to argue with a world ranking of seventh heading into the December 3 draw for the 2027 World Cup, which Australia will host.

Joe Schmidt will still be in charge for three more home tests in the inaugural Nations Championship next July before handing over the reins to Les Kiss, and has made it clear there will be no more extensions.

The highly-respected New Zealander, who oversaw five wins and 10 losses this season, has undoubtedly improved the Wallabies since taking over in the wake of the humiliating pool stage exit at the 2023 World Cup.

Openside Fraser McReight, loose forward Tom Hooper, prop Angus Bell, centres Len Ikitau and Joseph Suaali'i as well as outside back Max Jorgensen have all illustrated that there is still plenty of quality in the Australian talent pool.

The slide into ill-discipline, uncertainty under the high ball as well as some directionless back play on the November tour, however, was an all-too-familiar reminder of the failings of the Wallabies over the last decade.

Injuries to fullback Tom Wright and scrumhalf Tate McDermott certainly robbed the backline of two potent attacking weapons but Australia relied too often on individual brilliance for tries.

FLYHALF AN ISSUE FOR WALLABIES

Schmidt started five flyhalves in the 15 tests Australia played in 2025, but none consistently produced the sort of performance that would be acceptable to any of the teams above them in the world