A year after being axed by Jones, respected veteran coach Laurie Fisher has been reappointed to the new Wallabies coaching staff.
Veteran Australian coach Laurie Fisher has hailed the “hard edge” of new Wallabies boss Joe Schmidt after signing on as the first member of the New Zealander’s coaching staff. A little over a year after he was the first assistant coach axed by the returned Eddie Jones, Fisher accepted the invitation of Schmidt to re-join the national set-up as defence coach.
The appointment is through to the end of 2025. Former Ireland and Rebels analyst Eoin Toolan has also been hired by as Head of Analysis and skills coach. Fisher’s return continues a rollercoaster ride for one of the mostly highly respected coaching figures in Australian rugby; through a“It was unexpected,” Fisher said. “Joe was looking for somebody with a bit of experience, I guess I have a reasonable reputation, and realistically we want to be maximising Super Rugby team’s chances of success so trying not to disrupt them. So I was here and available, and keen to play a part in not so much a resurrection, but really trying to get Australian rugby moving forward.” Fisher believed his chances of coaching with the Wallabies had passed him by, but Dave Rennie gave the then 64-year-old a call-up to his staff in 2022. Jones, however, and after retiring from full-time coaching at the Brumbies last year, the coach known as “Lord” took a consultancy role with Rugby Australia, helping with pathway teams.But Schmidt came knocking about taking a role on his Wallabies staff and Fisher jumped at the second chance. “It is a little bit loopy but if you love rugby like all of us coaches do, you are always watching games,” Fisher said. “You are always thinking of ideas and seeing things, so realistically you are always ready. I certainly didn’t expect another opportunity but I am super excited.”Fisher has known Schmidt for many years, and the pair coached against each other while at Munster and Leinster in 2011. “My impression is he is extremely thorough. Socially he is a nice guy, but he has real, nice hard edge about him, too,” Fisher said. “He will be intense. But he will be honest, he will be fair, you will know where you stand, you’ll know what’s expected. There will be no surprises, which I think is fantastic for the players. We have a job to do, they’ll know exactly what it is, they’ll know exactly how we’re going to go about it. He will drive that, and I think that suits Australian rugby players. The boys will enjoy his approach.“He has a different lens but I have sat through a couple of team meetings, and his attention for detail, there is nothing wishy-washy. You are very clear: you have either been excellent or you haven’t been. We want to get out that middle ground.” Usually forthright with his opinions, Fisher sidestepped the chance to criticise Jones and the chaotic campaign that saw the Wallabies crash out of the Rugby World Cup in the pool stages for the first time. Prior to the World Cup, Jones chided Fisher – who was then part of the Australia A coaching team – for questioning the Wallabies defence under ex-rugby league player Brett Hodgson. “The Wallabies is our flagship and everybody wanted them to be successful, and they weren’t. It is not for me to dwell on the reasons why, but I saw heaps of effort. I don’t think there was any lack of effort, or any lack of buy-in from the players. They were a fantastic group from that respect,” Fisher said. “It was disappointing all round but here is the chance to get out of the rearview mirror, look ahead and see what’s ahead of us. That’s purely and simply what we’ll be doing: charting a way forward and leaving the past behind.”It is enough to enthuse Fisher about the season ahead, which will see the Wallabies face Wales in a two-Test series in July; just ten months after the Welsh“I am seeing a real excitement in the Australian teams. Every year there is a desire to do well, but perhaps there is a feeling that there is a line in the sand now, and that we have to move forward,” Fisher said “I thought the first three rounds of Super Rugby have been superb viewing. I reckon we will have a great crew to select from. The challenge will be not who is in, it will be who is out. “You are trying to right the wrong of that performance . It’s not rocket science to say nobody was happy with that result, or the nature of it. So in a way, to jump straight back in against them, first up, is an ideal challenge.” In a statement, Schmidt said: “Laurie brings a wealth of experience to the role and is highly respected around the rugby world.” “Having worked with Eoin in Ireland I know he will bring a strong attention to detail and be a very positive addition to the staff and wider team.”
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