Former Leinster and Ireland coach Joe Schmidt has been announced by Rugby Australia as the new Wallabies head coach.
The 58-year-old most recently served as assistant head coach of New Zealand, assuming the role in the wake of their 2022 series defeat to Ireland and helping guide the team to the 2023 Rugby World Cup final alongside Ian Foster.
Schmidt's most high profile role, and the one which is most cited by his admirers down south, was his six-year stint as head coach of Ireland between 2013 and 2019, where he presided over three Six Nations wins and a Grand Slam success in 2018.
During his tenure, Ireland beat New Zealand for the first time in 2016, before doing so again in 2018. The side reached No. 1 in the world in 2019 before their form collapsed at that year's World Cup in Japan exiting at the quarter-final stage yet again at the hands of New Zealand.
Schmidt signed a two-year deal with Australia and takes over from former England coach Eddie Jones who left the role after the World Cup.
Former Ireland international Donal Lenihan believes the appointment is a clever bit of business by the Wallabies.
"He has a mammoth task, but he's the ideal appointment," he said.
"If you look at the four Irish provinces aligned to the international union, it’s a similar set-up with Australia.
"Australian Rugby is at a low ebb. The Eddie Jones appointment was a bit of farcical circus and it did untold damage to Australian Rugby.
"I think Joe Schmidt is the man to get the very best out of what they have. With a Lions tour coming up and Andy Farrell, his assistant coach with Ireland, in charge of the Lions, it’s going to make for a fascinating tour."
Rugby Australia (RA) chief Phil Waugh said Schmidt's coaching background and experience was a significant reason for his appointment.
He said: "Given our stated plan to build a unified Australian Rugby system, Joe's experience with Ireland and New Zealand - two of the most aligned Rugby nations in the world - will no doubt prove valuable as we move forward.
"He has a global view of the game from his experience in both the Northern and Southern hemispheres, and his appointment puts us in a strong position as we build towards the 2025 British and Irish Lions Tour."
Schmidt said he is looking forward to starting in the role after a slump in Australian rugby in recent years.
He said: "I am conscious that the Wallabies have weathered a difficult period, and I am keen to help them build a way forward, with greater alignment and clear direction from RA.
"The upcoming Test matches against Wales will arrive quickly, post-Super Rugby, and the program through to the British and Irish Lions Tour next year presents plenty of opportunities and challenges - which I am sure will invigorate players and staff."
The Wallabies failed to progress through the group stage in the World Cup, losing to Wales and Fiji, and have won just three of their last 10 matches.
