Joe Schmidt admits the Wallabies must rise to another level to compete with the Springboks after surviving a scare to keep their unbeaten run under the new coach alive with a hard-earned 40-29 victory over Georgia.
The 12th-ranked Georgians threatened a boilover after closing to within two points of the hosts early in the second half before the Wallabies kicked away late at Allianz Stadium on Saturday.
Schmidt made 10 changes to the side that beat Wales 36-28 last Saturday in Melbourne and some seized the opportunity while others didn’t.
New flyhalf Ben Donaldson didn’t look the answer to Australia’s playmaking dilemma, his kicking and decision-making too often poor.
The Wallabies had the tireless backrow of Fraser McReight, Rob Valetini and Harry Wilson largely to thank for helping secure a fourth-straight win for the national side for the first time since 2021 when under Dave Rennie.
Lock Nick Frost and first-time starting prop Isaac Kailea were also strong but the first-half dismissal of winger Filipo Daugunu for a dangerous tackle made life difficult for the home side.
Daugunu’s initial yellow card for kneeing Georgian winger Demur Tapladze in the head while airborne and trying to charge down a kick was elevated to a red at halftime.
The disruption didn’t help Schmidt’s new-look outfit as they struggled to put the spirited eastern Europeans away.
Still, the Wallabies looked to have the game wrapped up with a 26-10 lead into the break.
After falling behind to a second-minute penalty goal to impressive Georgia five-eighth Luka Matkava, the Wallabies crossed for three tries in 15 minutes through centre Hunter Paisami, Valetini and Kailea.
Then they lost their way.
Ill-discipline and Daugunu’s departure invited the eastern Europeans back into the contest as Georgia reduced the deficit to 19-10 with a 33rd-minute converted try to lock Micheil Babunashvili.
Only a driving maul try to man-of-the-match McReight on the stroke of halftime gave the Wallabies some breathing space.
And it didn’t last long as Georgia pulled the score back to 26-24 with two scintillating tries early in the second half through fullback Davit Niniashvili and lightning winger Akaki Tabutsadze.
For all the visitors’ pluck and resilience, the tide turned back in the Wallabies’ favour after Georgia themselves were reduced to 14 men with the sin-binning of Niniashvili for a deliberate knock down as Australia pounded their line.
A McReight break and 40-metre burst set up Valetini’s second try and there was no coming back from The Lelos.
McReight completed his try double to restore Australia’s 16-point advantage before Tabutsadze crossed for a consolation second five-pointer late on.
Schmidt, conceding it’s difficult to strike a balance between building depth and winning, will take the victory.
But after Eddie Jones’ side downed Georgia by 20 points during last year’s ill-fated World Cup campaign, his successor also recognises the Wallabies need to improve markedly for their Rugby Championship opener against the world champion Springboks in Brisbane on August 10.
“It’s certainly the audition over because I don’t think we can afford to probably be as loose with the ball to get it ripped off us and probably give up some tries that we’re disappointed with,” Schmidt said.
“Going forward to the Rugby Championship, we’ve learned a little bit more about the players.
“But I’m also realistic. I’ve been doing jobs similar to this for a long time and the thing that you realise is that things do take time and building combinations takes time.
“Building a game model that people become familiar with and automate the actions that are required for that, that does take time.
“But we’re out of time. We’ve got to be able to deliver against South Africa, which is a whole different level.”
