Irish rugby legend Johnny Sexton is confident that Joe Schmidt, whom he describes as a “genius,” has the ability to turn around the fortunes of the Wallabies and transform them into a formidable force ahead of their European Spring Tour Tests. In recent discussions on the podcast The Good, The Bad and The Rugby, Sexton expressed his belief in Schmidt’s coaching abilities and his capacity to uplift any team he coaches.
Sexton, who achieved Six Nations titles under Schmidt’s guidance with the Irish national team, was promoting his new autobiography Obsessed and shared insights into Schmidt’s ongoing impact in rugby. When asked about Schmidt’s current relevance as a national coach, Sexton was adamant that the veteran coach’s tactical edge remained intact.
Analyzing Schmidt’s Coaching Edge
During the podcast, Sexton responded to observations that Schmidt’s primary strength lay in his analytical skills and his ability to identify unique tactical advantages—qualities that some believe have been equaled by other national teams in recent years.
Sexton recounted a moment from the recent Bledisloe Cup match, where an Australian attacking move orchestrated by Schmidt nearly resulted in a try, with the only misstep being a knock-on by Jake Gordon near the try line.
“I still see it,” Sexton remarked, adding, “You saw Australia… they only didn’t score because a player just knocked it on at the very end. But they break New Zealand open with that move… [Schmidt] scouted that. That’s him. That’s him just doing that. It sounds like he still has that intelligence and brains… But it’ll take time. He’s only had a few weeks with them, a few games, and obviously they had a sort of bad half against Argentina. But other than that, they’ve been really competitive, I would say.”
Schmidt’s Influence Across Continents
Sexton further praised Schmidt’s coaching abilities, noting how Schmidt’s influence extends far beyond the individual players he coaches. Reflecting on Schmidt’s time as an assistant coach with the New Zealand team, Sexton remarked, “He didn’t win a World Cup in New Zealand as an assistant coach, but they came pretty close. Sometimes you need a little bit of luck.”
Sexton continued his appreciation for Schmidt’s influence on his own career during an appearance on the BBC’s Rugby Union Weekly podcast. “I remember playing games at the end of my career with Joe Schmidt’s [voice] still in my ear, in a good way. Because he was a genius. And he influenced me so much in that period of my career, I worked with him from 2011 to 2018 so the majority of my career was with Joe in one way.”
Comparing Schmidt and Farrell
Sexton also shared insights into his relationship with Schmidt’s successor, Andy Farrell. He praised Farrell for bringing a different set of skills and for having a well-rounded coaching style. “He does it all. He coaches attack and defense, like brilliantly, like the best, the best of the best. Good man manager, can motivate a team.”
The two coaches will be on opposite sides when the British & Irish Lions tour Australia next year. Sexton believes that the rivalry between Schmidt and Farrell, former colleagues and current competitors, will add a compelling dynamic to the tour. “It’s a year out, so [the Wallabies] have got time. I think it’ll be a great tour. I think it’s a great narrative, isn’t it? Joe against Andy again, having worked so closely together… It’ll be interesting.”
The Genius of Joe Schmidt
Sexton has repeatedly referred to Schmidt as a “genius,” attributing much of his own success to the insights and lessons he learned under Schmidt’s coaching. He recounted Schmidt’s influence on his playing style and his enduring impact on his rugby mindset, “He had probably the biggest influence [on me]… what he taught me is embedded in my head. I’d still play games at the end of my career with his voice in my head… I’d probably need to go see a psychiatrist,” Sexton joked.
Sexton detailed Schmidt’s coaching philosophy, which emphasized exploiting space on the field while strategically applying pressure on opponents. Schmidt’s tactical adaptability allowed his teams to switch seamlessly between a running game and a kicking game, depending on the circumstances. “He didn’t care if you ran from behind your own try line… his thing was a very simple message: go to space; if there’s no space, put the pressure on them.”
With Schmidt’s tactical prowess and innovative coaching techniques, Sexton is optimistic about the Wallabies’ potential under Schmidt’s leadership, expecting them to be formidable competitors on the international stage once again.
