Joe Schmidt believes that it would be ideal for the Wallabies to climb into the top six of the world rugby rankings. Missing that mark wonโt derail their ultimate goal of winning the Menโs Rugby World Cup 2027 on home soil in Australia. With the World Cup Draw set to take place in Sydney next month.
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The Wallabies are currently projected to land in the second tier of pool seedings. That position means they could face one of rugbyโs powerhouse teams, such as South Africa or New Zealand, right from the start of the tournament. If Australia wants to avoid that, itโll need to improve its seventh-place ranking before the December 3 draw.
After a disappointing 25-7 loss to England in the Autumn Nations Series at Twickenhamโs Allianz Stadium. The Wallabies have slipped slightly behind sixth-ranked Argentina. They still have three matches left this season to make up ground.
Despite the rankingโs setback, Schmidt remains calm and focused. He emphasized that while being in the top six would certainly be advantageous, itโs not the ultimate measure of success. What matters more, he said, is how the team continues to develop and approach challenges with confidence.
Wallabies Can Win Rugby World Cup Without Top-Six Ranking
If we donโt get to six in the world, all weโve got to do is just keep building. Because you can still be a great chance and not be six in the world, Schmidt told reporters. That would be ideal for us, but weโve got to keep improving over the next two years and not be afraid of playing one of the big guns.
Schmidt pointed out that the Wallabies have already proven they can compete with the best when at full strength. Weโve had some big wins this season, and I think weโve shown that when we have our top squad together, we can beat quality teams, he said. Now, the goal is to build depth behind that main group. This tour is really about doing just that.
Next up for Australia is a test against Italy, a side that continues to grow under head coach Gonzalo Gonzo Quesada, a close friend of Schmidtโs. Italy will be very tough. They were only one score away from England at halftime the last time they played, Schmidt said.
Theyโve got some great attacking players who play at the top level, so itโs going to be a massive challenge for us. Weโll have to regroup quickly after the England match. Nearly a year ago, the Wallabies pulled off a thrilling 42-37 victory over England at Allianz Stadium, with Max Jorgensen scoring a dramatic last-minute try.
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Rugby World Cup Final: Australiaโs Resurgence Gains Momentum Under Schmidt
That match marked the beginning of a resurgence for Australia, which later included wins over the British & Irish Lions, Fiji, South Africa, Argentina, and Japan. These performances have given the Wallabies renewed belief and momentum heading toward 2027.
However, Schmidt is well aware that consistency remains the next big hurdle. Their upcoming clash with Italy serves as both a test and a reminder of the last time these two teams met, in 2022. Italy claimed a famous win after debutant Ben Donaldson missed a late conversion that would have sealed the game for Australia.
I donโt think we spend much time talking about what happened before the last 18 months, Schmidt said. Weโve focused on where we are now, the depth we have, and the challenges in front of us. Weโre trying to get better little by little, even if that progress isnโt always linear.
Schmidt added that playing motivated home teams can make improvement harder to measure, but the Wallabies are learning to stay grounded. We remember what happened last time we went to Italy, he said.
Iโve looked back at that game, and I even spoke with Dave Rennie about it when I saw him in Japan. But what matters now is how we prepare for this next match. We want to be more accurate, more composed, and show that weโve learned from what happened tonight.
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