(Reuters) – Australia coach Joe Schmidt said he will not make sweeping changes to his team despite their heavy defeat by South Africa in their Rugby Championship opener on Saturday and that he has faith in the long-term plan for the side.
The Wallabies were hammered 33-7 by the World Cup winners in Brisbane, with Schmidt suffering his first defeat since taking charge at the start of the year.
The two sides meet again in Perth on Saturday and former Ireland coach Schmidt expects improvement from his side, though he will be without winger Filipo Daugunu, who suffered a fractured fibula against the Springboks, as well as locks Nick Frost and Jeremy Williams (both concussion).
Josh Canham, Sam Carter and Tom Robertson have been called up to the squad.
“I think there’s guys that will improve what they’re delivering, maybe it won’t be improved in time for next Saturday but we do have to have a bit of a long-term plan,” Schmidt said.
“We have got a much younger side than the South Africans. We got a lot less caps, a lot less experience, and therefore I believe if we chop and change too much, then it’s very hard to grow the cohesion.
“Because when you go out into a game like that, you are very interdependent, you’re going to have to make sure everyone knows their role, has been built ready to deliver their role.”
Schmidt praised newly capped duo Carlo Tizzano and Luke Reimer as the pair went head-to-head with a vastly experienced South African side featuring many of the players that have delivered back-to-back World Cup triumphs.
“I thought Carlo Tizzano did really well today, really well,” said Schmidt. “But it would’ve been nice to have Fraser McReight as well.
“And Luke Reimer coming off the bench. There’s guys that will get better with opportunity, two guys making their test debut against the likes of Siya Kolisi, Kwagga Smith and Pieter-Steph du Toit.
“I am a realist. I know you don’t suddenly match up, and front up and better those guys. But you’ve got to better yourself for next week.”
(Reporting by Michael Church, Editing by Peter Rutherford)
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