Wallabies Coach Joe Schmidt Shares Insights on Zac Lomax and the Giteau Law Ahead of the Inaugural Nations Championship

Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt has expressed his admiration for Zac Lomax’s impressive debut in Super Rugby, indicating that he may participate in a Rugby Australia training hub ahead of the inaugural Nations Championship.

Lomax made a significant impact by scoring a try during his first start for the Western Force, contributing to a remarkable upset victory over the defending champions, the Crusaders, last weekend.

Even prior to Lomax stepping onto the field, Schmidt was aware that the NRL convert was genuinely committed to his rapid transition leading up to next year’s home Rugby World Cup.

“The signs are encouraging,” Schmidt remarked in a 25-minute discussion with Wide World of Sports and News Corp in Hong Kong.

“From our first meeting, it was evident he’s quite driven… I don’t typically make promises, but the coaching staff will gather and assess how Zac compares to the other wingers.”

“Some players have been struggling with injuries as well, so availability will play a role. However, over the past two years, we have established hubs. When a team exits Super Rugby, we create a larger squad than what we ultimately select.”

“We’d certainly like Zac to be included in that so he can familiarise himself with the language, comprehend the expectations, and gain direct insight into how he’s performing in training.”

Schmidt has three more Tests to oversee before handing the reins to Les Kiss in late July.

Australia will face Ireland in Sydney, France in Brisbane, and Italy in Perth as Schmidt endeavours to elevate the Wallabies from their current world ranking of eighth.

“We must improve because just being good some of the time isn’t enough to be among the elite teams,” Schmidt stated.

“The best teams maintain their performance consistently. Last year, I was incredibly disappointed with the Eden Park Test – just two points behind (the All Blacks) with 10 minutes left (resulting in a 33-24 loss).

“Games against France and England are closely contested with just 20 minutes remaining. Therefore, we need to ensure we can deliver in that final stretch. I sensed that fatigue played a role. Earlier in the season, we finished games strongly, yet we began to fade.”

Peaking for the marquee British and Irish Lions series and contending with another stretch of injuries may partly explain that subdued end to the season.

Schmidt refrained from using either as an excuse and believed that the foundation of a robust World Cup team is present.

“This group is really tight-knit and connected. They’re ready to put in the hard work,” he commented.

“At the Sevens here, we’ve seen plenty of Aussies in Hong Kong… with a lot of positive feedback regarding the direction in which the Wallabies are heading. I’m just eager to achieve results,” Schmidt remarked.

While Schmidt is satisfied to let Kiss steer his own ship for the remainder of 2026, he remains open to providing support to his former Ireland assistant next year if needed.

Kiss currently has the Queensland Reds in playoff contention with a record of 5-3 as they prepare for their Super Round clash against the Blues in Christchurch this Saturday.

The former league player brings a wealth of experience, but this will be his first venture as an international head coach.

“Les forges strong relationships with players,” Schmidt noted.

“I’ve always found him to be very forthright. He communicates with players in an honest and direct manner, ensuring they know where they stand. Retaining their confidence and trust is crucial to achieving total buy-in. In the chaotic environment of a rugby match, players must be devoted to the strategy. Guiding their thoughts and directions is something I believe Les will excel at.”

SCHMIDT ON THE CURRENT ‘GITEAU LAW’

“Players like Will Skelton—who is currently injured—still qualify under the rule of having either five years in Super Rugby or 30 Test matches.

“He meets both criteria. Similarly, Tom Hooper has accumulated five years in Super, making him eligible for selection.

“Noah Lolesio has spent adequate time in Australia. Instead of imposing a cap on the number of players, we’ll consider individual cases to see if they’ve met the necessary conditions.”

SCHMIDT ON NOAH LOLESIO’S INJURY RETURN IN JAPAN

“He appears to be performing a level above his current competition, to be honest. In certain matches for Toyota Industries Shuttles Aichi’s second division, he looks dominant.

This is beneficial for his confidence upon his return; however, it may not provide the best preparation for Test matches.

He’s thriving with the time and space available, but that’s precisely what opponents will aim to deprive us of in our matchups.”

SCHMIDT ON THE COMPETITION FOR THE NUMBER 10 POSITION BEING OPEN

“We are still waiting for Tommy (Lynagh) to return to full fitness. Additionally, Carter (Gordon) has had some standout moments.

“He possesses speed and has a strong kicking game; everything is progressing well for him. Declan Meredith is also performing strongly, effectively keeping Tane (Edmed) from that position. Ben Donaldson is also in good form.

Last year’s scenario of having six different players at No. 10 made it challenging to achieve any level of continuity.”

SCHMIDT ON WHETHER SUPER RUGBY PREPARES PLAYERS FOR TEST MATCHES

“I believe it serves as a good preparation tool. For example, witnessing the Brumbies scoring 50 points against the Crusaders is something we wouldn’t have seen in the past.

Some may question whether this truly prepares you for Test rugby, yet I watched a 48-46 match unfold at Stade de France (France vs. England in the Six Nations).

I don’t think anything quite compares to Test rugby. I don’t see how Premiership Rugby conditions players for Test rugby, nor does the URC adequately prepare them to transition directly into Test matches.”

Sam Worthington attended the 2026 Hong Kong Sevens, courtesy of the Hong Kong Tourism Board and Cathay Pacific