
Under-the-cosh coach Joe Schmidt has revealed his deep frustration that the efforts of his "emotionally and physically fatigued" Wallabies have gone unrewarded as they face the prospect of a 67-year nadir in freezing Paris.
But while reflecting on one of the toughest periods of his distinguished career, the 60-year-old Kiwi was still adamant his ailing side can confound the odds one last time in 2025 by beating European champions France in sub-zero temperatures on Saturday night.