Allan Alaalatoa says the Wallabies are confident they are on the right track with Joe Schmidt despite a scathing assessment from former Springbok captain Jean de Villiers.

The Wallabies open the Rugby Championship with a clash with the Springboks at a sold-out Suncorp Stadium on Saturday.

Ahead of the tournament, De Villiers laughed off any chance of Schmidt turning the Wallabies ship around, despite a positive start with a 2-0 series victory over Wales and a win against Georgia.

Schmidt took over from Eddie Jones, whose disastrous tenure ended in a historic World Cup pool exit, the first time the Wallabies had not qualified for the playoffs.

“Well, then they need to try find a woman because he’s not changing it,” de Villiers joked, when it was put to him that CJ Stander thought Schmidt was the only man who could make the Wallabies competitive again, on Boks Office.

“I don’t see him changing it around,” De Villiers added. “Name one player in the Australian team that becomes a part of the conversation for a world team?”

Alaalatoa, who has retained the Wallabies captaincy after leading the team against Georgia, said Schmidt has the full support of the squad.

“I wouldn’t know,” Alaalatoa responded when asked if de Villiers’ comments were disrespectful.

“Internally, the boys have so much respect for Joe. The experience that he has and the way that he carries himself around the group.

“The boys have really gotten around him, especially the coaching staff as well. We all know the rugby IQ and the knowledge that our coaching staff has.

“Being a part of that, as players, we’re grateful. To be a part of a group that has that knowledge onboard, so we can continue to learn. Especially guys who are leaders, who have been around for a while, still learning, still growing. That’s exactly what we want.”

Photo: Matt Roberts/Getty Images

The post Wallabies skipper shrugs off JdV’s jibe appeared first on SA Rugby magazine.

Src: sarugbymag.co.za