1 Changed role could play a part in keeping Joe
Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt has everyone on tenterhooks as he weighs up whether to stay on beyond the British and Irish Lions tour.
The nerves are understandable, although there have been enough quality coaching appointments made in Australia rugby in recent times to suggest the game is mercifully moving away from saviour-shopping – the previous tendency to hope one man at the top of the Wallabies is going to solve everything.
Schmidt has family commitments to consider, but his previous two roles at the All Blacks and the Blues show there is more than one way to keep him involved. In those two jobs he was a pure coach: he didn’t do any media or any periphery stuff that is so time-consuming.
If the Wallabies head coach job doesn’t fit, could he be persuaded to shift into an “assistant” role alongside someone such as Les Kiss? At 59, and apparently as fit as a fiddle, Schmidt still has much to give.
Joe Schmidt barks instructions at Wallabies training.Credit: Getty Images
2. Eddie Jones rolls the dice again
Jones’ selection in the Japan No.10 jersey for the England Test (overnight on Sunday) raised some eyebrows: he picked Kiwi Nicholas McCurran, who is normally a midfielder for his club Toshiba Brave Lupus.
Jones, who did not take part in the pre-Test press conference for “health reasons”, has been the target of several unflattering articles in the build-up to the Test, and McCurran’s selection went under the radar.
However, if Japan lose heavily to England, it will mean a grim end to a disappointing year for Japanese rugby. Wallabies fans, of course, have seen this movie before.
3. Why the next TV deal is critical
Australia and New Zealand are joined at the hip financially. The formula that was struck to share the broadcast spoils for Super Rugby Pacific was beneficial for Rugby Australia, but it also leaves them exposed to any decline in the New Zealand Rugby deal with Sky.
Those negotiations, for the period starting in 2026, appear to be reaching the pointy end with a deal before Christmas still a possibility. Parity with the last deal – which was artificially boosted by competition from the now-defunct Spark Sport – would be a reasonable result for NZ Rugby, but any decline would also have an impact in Australia.
Any potential broadcast upside for Super Rugby is arguably on the Australian side.
4 The surprise team of November
The big winners of the past three weeks? The US, who wrapped up their campaign at the weekend with a 26-23 victory over Spain after wins against Tonga and Portugal.
Given where the men’s Rugby World Cup is heading in 2031, these are not insignificant results. The Eagles missed out on qualification for the Rugby World Cup last year, and there are real challenges in joining the dots between Major League Rugby, USA Rugby and World Rugby, but these three wins suggest they are doing something right.
If rugby is to have any sort of cut-through in the US, the Eagles have to be competitive. It’s the secret sauce to that market – everything else is window dressing.
5 Ireland’s big threat
The Irish warmed up for their game against the Wallabies next week with a 52-17 win against Fiji – a confidence-boosting performance after a narrow win against Argentina and a loss to the All Blacks.
At the heart of it was a familiar star, Bundee Aki. The New Zealand-born midfielder carried brilliantly throughout the Test, and even at 34 years old he remains indispensable for the Irish.
No one consistently gets over the gainline like the bruising No.12, and when he does that, Ireland can get into the patterns of attack that have become their trademark. His duel with Wallabies centre Len Ikitau will be a beauty.
