Elliott Smith’s Tight Five: Why NZ Rugby must get Joe Schmidt back onside

New Zealand Rugby could have more to celebrate if they can get a key coaching asset on the books. Photo / SmartFrame

A suggestion...

New Zealand Rugby – along with dealing with their Ineos issues – must make a move to get Joe Schmidt back on their books once his deal with the Wallabies ends later this year. Schmidt has set up his family life again in New Zealand – but has left the door open to remaining in a consultant role with the Wallabies if desired by the new gaffer when his term comes to an end after the Rugby Championship. That should be the trigger for NZR reaching out and finding him a role, somewhere in their system.

Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt finishes with the side this year. Photo / Photosport

A well-documented approach to work with coach-in-waiting Scott Robertson in 2022 didn’t fly and it was intimated he didn’t feel comfortable with the way the process to appoint the coach from 2024 went, but the olive branch – if needed – should be extended.

A question...

If not the All Blacks, there are other ways he could play a role in the New Zealand system - how valuable could he be to the Black Ferns as a skills coach ahead of the World Cup this year? Or maybe lure him with the chance to rebuild the Crusaders next year (assuming Rob Penney is to leave after this season)?

Schmidt’s IP and rugby-brain is too valuable to allow him to keep contributing to Australia from these shores. That is not what the National Party introduced the digital nomad visa for.

An observation...

Warren Gatland’s departure as Wales coach proves “you can’t go home again”. Gatland wasn’t the first and won’t be the last to try to head back to his old pastures and hope for similar success to a previous stint.

Eddie Jones has virtually become a professional at it, clocking in with the Wallabies and Japan for second stints. The reality for coaches is time moves on and while the temptation to return may be too great, getting back with an ex even after a mutual break-up is unlikely to work out in the long run.

Warren Gatland is finished with Wales again. Photo / Photosport

An explanation...

For Gatland, it became quite clear that after working with (relatively speaking) a golden generation of Wales players in his first stint – including what should have led to a World Cup final appearance in 2011, the message has failed to resonate second time around.

Wales have deep systemic issues in their pathway systems that are beyond Gatland, but Warren-ball immediately felt stale on his return and the lack of innovation even with a lack of cattle instantly hurts a coach’s credibility. The attacking and defensive structure in their loss to Italy was embarrassing.

Talked about Welsh lack of shape a lot.

This sums it up. No peel on the open side, forwards setting up for the same again, with nobody creating width.

Run isolated, pressure at breakdown, commit more men, and repeat. pic.twitter.com/9HLKSnGzcD

— Robert Rees (@Rreesrugby) February 8, 2025

A prediction...

We need Super Rugby to stand up and deliver this year, propelled by a new CEO giving the competition some much-needed oomph including introducing a raft of promising changes, including an official fantasy game that should have been around a decade ago.

New Zealand is badly underserved by quality sports and sports with storylines – the natural comparison is Australia where AFL and NRL continue to be talked about over summer even during the bi cricket series. Here it feels like the entire sports eco-system checks out in late-November – if not earlier. The Warriors have done well in this space; the Super Rugby sides can do better by embracing rivalries and controversies.

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