The Wallabies will roll out a more experienced side this weekend against Ireland, as they look to break a four-match losing streak and get their Spring Tour back on track.
The men in gold are looking to avoid an ugly bit of history, with it being 67 years since the Wallabies last went through a European tour without a victory, and Schmidt backs the fresh legs, spearheaded by Len Ikitau, James O’Connor and Allan Alaalatoa, to do the job.
For Schmidt setting the Wallabies up for his successor Les Kiss is also sitting in the back of his head.
Schmidt told reporters after the squad announcement that hindsight's a wonderful thing.
He says they have tried to have foresight in where they need to be in a couple of years and what they need to deliver this Saturday, that's always been the equation.
The Wallabies coach says he wants to leave things set up, and that was really his commitment to Les Kiss and to Rugby Australia.
The timing couldn’t have been better, with Carter Gordon still dealing with a quad issue and the likes of players like Taniela Tupou in need of rest.
Schmidt says that's one of the reasons they brought O'Connor back in as they've tried to get some freshness into the squad.
He says O'Connor was away on holiday in Morocco, so he's a little bit fresher and they're hoping that that kind of gives them a bit of a bounce into the game.
Despite the disappointing results, Schmidt believes that the first three weeks of the tour will be critical in addressing long-term depth issues for the Wallabies.
The Wallabies meet Ireland at 8.10am Sunday.
[Source: rugby.com.au]
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