Emotional return for Schmidt as he tries to keep Wallabies' heads above water

Australia coach Joe Schmidt admitted he is battling to return the Wallabies into a rugby force as he faces an emotional return to Dublin this weekend when he lines up his side against Ireland, who he coached to three Six Nations championships.

The New Zealand-born Schmidt worked in Ireland for a decade but is now attempting to build a strong Australia side to take on the British & Irish Lions next year.

But it has not proven an easy task.

"I feel like I'm paddling hard, but I'm not necessarily going forward, but I think we're keeping our head above water," Schmidt said.

"We've demonstrated we can be competitive with some really top teams, but we've slipped off in a couple of second halves, which is frustrating.

"We're trying to build to 80-minute performances and we're trying to build depth so that if we get a ripple like we did last week, that we can still try to stay on top of the water," he said in reference to their 27-13 defeat by Scotland at Murrayfield last weekend.

"So yeah, we're not necessarily flying through it, but we are managing to keep our head above it. I believe we were quite confident in the progress we were making, but sometimes, when it's not reflected on scoreboard, there's always an element of frustration," Schmidt added.

Australia beat England and Wales in the opening clashes of their November tour. But following last weekend's setback, they face a tough test against a powerful Ireland side, who Schmidt helped take to No.1 in the world rankings.

"Yeah, there'll be apprehension, because I have that every week," said a jovial Schmidt about his Dublin return.

"But I even have it (apprehension) before training, hoping we don't break someone or hoping the boys get some confidence and some rhythm.

"I try to be pretty transactional, pretty pragmatic on game day, but there'll be some emotion in it for me, for sure."

Schmidt has had a mixed year of results with three wins in his first outings as Australia coach but then losing five of six tests in the Rugby Championship.

This weekend's international in Dublin is their 13th of the year with their record at 6-6 but the focus very much on the Lions next year.

-Reuters