An Irish rugby great has put his faith in under-pressure coach Joe Schmidt to turn around Ireland’s fortunes against the All Blacks this weekend.

New Zealander Schmidt faces a mountainous task in Dublin on Sunday following his team’s lacklustre 32-15 loss to Australia which was his second Test at the helm.

Irish media criticised that performance heavily this week although Schmidt has largely been spared due to his short time in charge.

The former Bay of Plenty coach and Blues assistant received support from former Irish hooker and British and Irish Lions captain Ronnie Dawson, who believes Schmidt’s sustained success with Irish club Leinster will hold him in good stead.

“Joe Schmidt is an excellent coach and rugby man and he will certainly know what is required,” Dawson told journalists.

“He is more than capable of setting things right in a week and steering the Irish on a good course. If he manages that well it will be up to the players. Miracles do happen.”

Dawson, 81, became Ireland’s first national team coach in 1969 and was inducted this week into the International Rugby Board Hall of Fame.

He said the Irish have been in transition for too long and that Schmidt’s challenge next year will be handling the departure of centre Brian O’Driscoll and several other long-serving players while identifying the best young crop in the domestic game.

“There is no reason why the national side shouldn’t become a real force,” he said.

“After all, Irish provinces have been performing brilliantly in the European Cup on a consistent basis. It is now a case of transferring that form to the international stage.”

Schmidt replaced Declan Kidney as Ireland coach in April and began his tenure with an encouraging 40-9 win over Samoa two weeks ago before the setback against the Wallabies.