Springboks head coach Rassie Erasmus has expressed confidence in Joe Schmidt’s ability to lead Australia into the 2025 British & Irish Lions series, despite a rocky start to his tenure with the Wallabies. 

Schmidt, who took over from Eddie Jones, has faced mixed results in his early matches, including a 30-12 loss to Erasmus' Springboks on Saturday in Perth, Australia, marking his second loss in five games.

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While Australia's recent form has raised concerns about the team's readiness for the high-profile Lions series, Erasmus remains optimistic. 

“A week in rugby is long,” Erasmus said, emphasizing how quickly fortunes can change. 

He pointed to New Zealand’s recent turnaround after a loss to Argentina, where they rebounded with a dominant 42-10 victory over the Pumas.

Erasmus acknowledged that Schmidt is facing challenges, including player injuries and the process of adjusting to his new role in Australian rugby. However, he believes Schmidt has the ability to make Australia competitive in time for the Lions tour. 

"You have to get the right people on board, and I think Joe is the right coach," Erasmus said. "With the right players, I believe they’ll be ready."

Erasmus’ focus now shifts to the Springboks’ upcoming clashes against the All Blacks in the Rugby Championship. 

After two comfortable victories over Australia, South Africa faces a tougher test against Scott Robertson’s New Zealand side. The All Blacks bounced back from their earlier loss to Argentina with an emphatic win, signaling a serious challenge ahead for the Springboks.

Erasmus acknowledged that Australia still is in a rebuilding phase under Schmidt but sees New Zealand as a more formidable opponent. "It’s another step up," Erasmus said. "The All Blacks have found their rhythm, and we’ll be in for a tough two weeks against them at altitude and in Cape Town."

Meanwhile, Schmidt and the Wallabies prepare for another stern test against Argentina later in August. Schmidt knows the road ahead won't get any easier, with Australia facing three of the four World Cup semifinalists in this tournament. 

"It’s a tough competition," Schmidt said. "We’re facing teams that have shown how hard they are to beat, like Argentina, who toppled the All Blacks."

Despite their struggles, Schmidt's Wallabies showed moments of resilience against the Springboks, battling hard before the world champions pulled away in the second half. 

World Cup-winning hooker Malcolm Marx scored twice, helping South Africa secure a commanding win in challenging conditions. 

"We didn’t die wondering," Schmidt said. "We chanced our arm in tough conditions, and we’ll keep building."

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