'It will be awkward' -... - Financial Unions

Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt, a man who helped take the All Blacks to the brink of World Cup glory last year, has described facing up against his former team this week as "awkward".

Schmidt, contracted to the Wallabies until next year after taking over from Eddie Jones' disastrous reign, was a key part of Ian Foster's coaching team for two years.

The New Zealander said he still kept in touch with some All Blacks players, just as he does with some Irish players — he is also a former Ireland head coach.

"It will be a bit awkward, to be honest," Schmidt said ahead of the Test in Sydney on Saturday.

"I've had a lot to do with some of those players very recently. It's probably not that different from going to the World Cup and coaching against Ireland or even being called in late a couple of years ago for the first Test at Eden Park for that week up against some Irish boys who I'd coached for 10 years.

"You build relationships with those people and you have a lot of respect for those people. It's the same with the All Blacks. It's awkward but you have a loyalty to the group of men you're working with at the current time.

"And players understand that … because they go up against each other in a national sense as opposed to playing Super Rugby against each other.

"It means you understand the firepower that they [All Blacks] do have and the horsepower up front as well. You understand what you're coming up against. I'm pretty sure the Australian players know that already."

It's entirely possible that Schmidt is still coming to terms with the size of his job in Australia.

The Wallabies let in nine tries against Argentina recently, after leading 20-3 at one point, they have fallen to ninth on the world rankings, and the national union is bleeding financially.

For example, it is understood that some of the coaches had to travel economy class to Argentina. That would never happen with the All Blacks.

The All Blacks will also field a vastly more experienced team at Accor Stadium in Homebush.

While the Wallabies have experience on the bench in the form of front rowers James Slipper (139 Tests) and Alan Alaalatoa (74), the rest of the bench has a very green tinge and the All Blacks' starters have 837 caps compared with the Wallabies' starters' 483.

Former All Blacks assistant coach Schmidt speaks to hooker Codie Taylor in Christchurch in 2022. (Source: Photosport)

As an attack coach with the All Blacks, Schmidt was closely aligned with Beauden Barrett and Will Jordan and said he could see why Scott Robertson had elected to play Barrett at fullback and Jordan on the right wing on Saturday.

"I think one of the things is Beauden Barrett's experience and his kicking game and his voice in the back field," Schmidt said. "He can be a really good foil for Damian McKenzie. That's from my experience.

"His [Barrett's] ability to be a second pair of hands is outstanding as well, not that Jordie is lacking anything there, he's a very skilful player as well.

"Having been associated with them and watching the World Cup final — playing 55 minutes with 14 players and losing by a point … that's how narrow the margins were, so that's how good they are. That in itself should keep our Wallaby boys on edge."

Schmidt said the Wallabies had to compete in the set piece as well as be aware of the All Blacks' counterattacking threat.

And then there was the All Blacks' breakdown work to consider.

"In their seven games this year they've had a dozen different guys who have poached the ball at the tackle. A lot of times you play a team and you're worried about two or three guys who are good over the ball. That's another weapon that allows them to play against destabilised defence."

Schmidt, a man who clearly possesses a big rugby brain, is also clearly a pragmatist as well.

He said he didn't want to get into the bigger picture of winning back the Bledisloe Cup as much as wishing to see progress from his side.

It's clear too that he has a soft spot for All Blacks flanker Sam Cane, a man who will play in his 99th Test on Saturday.

"I have massive respect for him as a man and a player."