NOV 25,(V7N) - Australia coach Joe Schmidt remains optimistic about the Wallabies' future despite their hopes for a Grand Slam tour being dashed by a 27-13 loss to Scotland at Murrayfield on Sunday. The defeat ended Australia's pursuit of a first Grand Slam in 40 years, following earlier victories over England and Wales.

Schmidt acknowledged that Scotland played a strong game, with several players likely to feature in the British & Irish Lions squad for their upcoming tour of Australia. “Scotland are a tough team," Schmidt said, adding that he hoped the Wallabies' performance would be seen as a positive sign of things to come, particularly with next year’s Lions tour approaching. “We’re building a little bit of momentum,” he remarked.

Despite dominating possession and territory early in the match, Australia struggled to convert their opportunities, with more than 30 missed tackles making it difficult to secure a win. Schmidt also cited the loss of Matt Faessler to a calf injury and Jeremy Williams to illness as disruptive factors, though he emphasized that these were "reasons" rather than excuses for the team's performance.

The injury to Joseph Suaalii early in the game was another blow, though Schmidt believed his injury was not serious. The Wallabies will also be without Will Skelton for their final tour match against Ireland in Dublin, which falls outside the official international window.

Despite these setbacks, Schmidt remains confident in the potential of his team. "I really do believe in this group, and I think they're starting to believe in themselves," Schmidt said. Next week’s match against Ireland will be a pivotal test, and Schmidt, who is set to face his former assistant Andy Farrell, is focused on preparing the team as best as possible for the challenge.

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