Campese: Schmidt is wrong man for Aussies

DAVID Campese delivered a blunt message regarding Joe Schmidt’s position as Australia’s head coach, claiming the Kiwi isn’t right for the role because he doesn’t understand the Wallabies’ culture and history.

- CAMERON STEPHENS

Speaking on The Rugby Paper podcast, the Wallabies legend, who was player of the tournament in Australia’s 1991 World Cup triumph, said: “I don’t believe we should have a Kiwi coach, Joe Schmidt has got no idea about our culture or history.

“What has he actually won? He hasn’t won anything. We always seem to get a coach that has never won anything. I think it’s very sad that we have to go through this again with another Kiwi coach. We always seem to get the second best Kiwi coach, never the first.”

Schmidt took charge of the Wallabies in March following a disastrous World Cup that saw Australia get knocked out in the group stages to spell the end of Eddie Jones’ brief tenure.

Schmidt, who won consecutive Heineken Cups with Leinster before becoming Ireland coach and winning three Six Nations in five years, is the third New Zealander to coach Australia after Robbie Deans and Dave Rennie.