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Schmidt hails Australia's resilience after last-gasp win over England

rugby09 November 2024 20:02| © Reuters
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Joe Schmidt © Getty Images

Australia coach Joe Schmidt said his side's dramatic 42-37 victory over England at Twickenham on Saturday will give the Wallabies belief they can reverse their fortunes after a torrid run of form.

Having lost five out of six matches in the Rugby Championship, including a humiliating 67-27 defeat by Argentina, Australia began the Autumn Internationals with serious questions to answer.

But the visitors showed impressive resolve to overturn a 12-point deficit in the first half before they recovered from the seemingly fatal blow of Maro Itoje's late try with Max Jorgensen going over to snatch the win with the clock in the red.

Schmidt said he was heartened by Australia's resilience and had seen a marked improvement on their performance late in the game compared to September's narrow 31-28 loss to New Zealand.

"I feared that we were going to have something similar again today at one stage," he told reporters.

Schmidt said he could see "green shoots" in Australia's development, though there was also room for improvement.

"There were things out there that we'll look at and we'll say we've got to do that better," he said. "There are things that we'll try to build on that we did quite well."

He added that the long-term aim will be the British & Irish Lions' tour of Australia next year, though his immediate focus is next week's contest against Wales.

"I think it is a process," he said. "Inevitably, progress is never linear. There will be a few peaks and troughs on the way further forward."

One of the green shoots Schmidt saw on Saturday was Joseph Suaalii, who was playing his first senior rugby union match having switched from rugby league and had what Schmidt described as a "confidence-boosting debut".

"It was a good learning experience for Joseph," Schmidt said. "I know there were some doubts expressed about him being selected and the risk.

"I think people would now see the opportunity of involving a young man like that, particularly the way he prepared during the week."

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