The Wallabies will roll out a more experienced side this weekend against Ireland, as they look to break a four-match losing streak and get their Spring Tour back on track.
The men in gold are looking to avoid an ugly bit of history, with it being 67 years since the Wallabies last went through a European tour without a victory, and Schmidt backs the fresh legs, spearheaded by Len Ikitau, James O’Connor and Allan Alaalatoa, to do the job.
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For Schmidt setting the Wallabies up for his successor Les Kiss is also sitting in the back of his head.
“Hindsight's a wonderful thing,” Schmidt said to reporters after the squad announcement late on Thursday night.
“I guess we've tried to have foresight in where we need to be in a couple of years and what we need to deliver this Saturday. That's always been the equation.
“A lot of it is what you leave behind. You want to leave things set up, and that was really my commitment to Les and to Rugby Australia, that I try to leave it so it's ready to go.”
Not only are Ikitau, O’Connor, and Alaalatoa all back, but Max Jorgensen also joins them after recovering from tonsillitis, while Dylan Pietsch is also on track to return next week.
The timing couldn’t have been better, with Carter Gordon still dealing with a quad issue and the likes of players like Taniela Tupou in need of rest.
“He [Carter Gordon] pulled up immediately after making a kick,” Schmidt said.
“He's quite cramped up and we just think it's a bit of a risk to put him back out there this week. So, that ruled Carter out. So, it left us with Tane [Edmed].
“That's one of the reasons we brought James back in. We've tried to get some freshness into the squad. There's a bit of wear and tear to be honest.
“James just brings a bit of freshness. He was away on holiday in Morocco, so he's a little bit fresher. We're hoping that that kind of gives us a bit of a bounce into the game.
“Taniela, he's had a decent workload as well. Allan is the fresh guy in.
“We're hopeful that with his experience and leadership, Allan can really help us as well. You can only commit to what you're trying to achieve.”
Despite the disappointing results, Schmidt believes that the first three weeks of the tour will be critical in addressing long-term depth issues for the Wallabies.
“I've learned a long time ago, you can't please all the people all the time,” Schmidt said when asked about the squad selection.
“We've got to build some depth. I feel like that strength and depth, if you don't have it, you're too vulnerable.
“Some of it was almost preordained because we didn't have players available to us for the England game or the Japan game. At the same time, we made 12 changes for the Japan game to give opportunities and for guys to put their hands up.
“At some stage, you've got to trust everyone in your squad. If you've selected them, then they have to be ready for whatever is demanded of them once they put on a test jersey. So, it's a balance that I don't think anyone gets right all the time.”
“We've tried to refresh the group in the front end of this week, no training Monday, a really good day.
“On Wednesday, our friends at Portmarnock [Golf Club] let the boys on for a hit, and they weren't the only golf club. There was a couple of them where the boys managed to get themselves out there, and Dublin turned on the weather for them.”
Schmidt and the staff have aimed to give the players a lighter week to also freshen up, and he expects Ireland to offer only more challenges, having also named their side.
“It was evident in the England game where teams try to keep a bit of a balance of what they start with and what they finish with in terms of the strength and depth of squads,” he added.
“That's something that I think Ireland have the luxury of as well.
“I think those [Irish] changes, they weren't totally unexpected. I think there's a real mix there, but I think it's a really strong side.
“I know how good Robbie Henshaw is. Bundee [Aki] on the bench, he still packs a punch.
“I thought Stu McCloskey looked really good in that first half against New Zealand. I know just what a big body he is.
“It's a headache for our boys to solve.”
