Australia head coach Joe Schmidt has responded to criticism from the British and Irish Lions regarding his decision not to release more Wallabies players for the Lions' provincial tour matches. Schmidt defended his stance amid the ongoing Lions 2025 tour preparations. Following Australia's narrow and unimpressive victory over Fiji in Newcastle, Schmidt expressed a lack of confidence in his team's prospects against the Lions and indicated that the Australian public does not expect a win. Observers noted that despite improvements under Schmidt, Australia’s performance remains underwhelming, recalling their early exit at the last Rugby World Cup. Schmidt also mentioned that the team selection for the upcoming match against the Brumbies would provide a clear indication of the Test team lineup, a view supported by recent assessments. The clash with the Brumbies is seen as a critical step in preparing for the Lions series, which features several All Blacks players facing the tourists.