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They say he who laughs last, laughs loudest. That\u2019s what Les Kiss will be thinking \u2013 and hoping \u2013 occurs in 12 months.<\/p>\n
It might sound crazy following their ugly 43-21 defeat on Saturday<\/a>, but the Wallabies have a better chance of winning their third World Cup than lifting the Bledisloe Cup next year.<\/p>\n Next month\u2019s Nations Championship could provide an insight into why, as Kiss\u2019 men head north to take on England, Scotland and Wales, before returning to London for the inaugural \u201cfinals weekend\u201d.<\/p>\n While Wallabies fans were left to rue another heavy Bledisloe defeat on Saturday<\/a> \u2013 the nation\u2019s 13th straight loss to the All Blacks since 2021 \u2013 Kiss won\u2019t necessarily be in a spin if they go down in their second World Cup pool match in Sydney next October.<\/p>\n In fact, it could be a blessing in disguise.<\/p>\n Why? Because it would put them on the other side of the World Cup draw, setting up a potentially much easier route to a fourth final, and the first since 2015. In that scenario, the Wallabies would likely meet England in the quarter-finals before facing either Ireland or Argentina in the semi-finals.<\/p>\n Rassie Erasmus\u2019 Springboks \u2013 who are bidding to become the first nation to win three World Cups in a row \u2013 and France are shaping up to be on the same side of the draw as Dave Rennie\u2019s All Blacks. It means only one of South Africa (world No.1), New Zealand (No.2) and France (No.4) can reach the final in a bizarre situation Rennie recently described as \u201ccrazy\u201d.<\/p>\n Of course, the Wallabies would still need to beat whichever of those three reached the decider, but at least they\u2019d be in it.<\/p>\n Former Wallabies coach John Connolly said meeting No.5-ranked England in a quarter-final would be the scenario Kiss\u2019 side would be hoping for.<\/p>\n \u201cMeeting England is the best possible scenario for the Wallabies,\u201d said Connolly, whose Australian side was pipped 12-10 by the same opponents in the 2007 World Cup quarter-finals in Marseille after Stirling Mortlock missed a late penalty in what the former coach described as a \u201cgreat sliding doors moment\u201d and his \u201cgreatest regret\u201d.<\/p>\n \u201cI think we can also beat Ireland, especially later in the year in the warmer months. Argentina shouldn\u2019t scare the Wallabies either.\u201d<\/p>\n While the Wallabies were outclassed by the world No.2 All Blacks a few weeks after toppling a second-string Springboks side in Perth<\/a>, Kiss\u2019 side had its moments against Rennie\u2019s men.<\/p>\n But like a week earlier at Eden Park, where they mucked up an attacking lineout on the All Blacks\u2019 line shortly after half-time when they were eyeing a lead, they just didn\u2019t take them.<\/p>\n Indeed, twice inside the opening 10 minutes, the Wallabies created an overlap on the All Blacks out wide but passed long rather than short and missed the opportunity to run in tries. It proved costly.<\/p>\n \u201cMaybe some better decision making on the edges would have been nice for us,\u201d bemoaned Kiss.<\/p>\n \u201cWe took the long pass instead of hands that was created by [rookie playmaker] Declan [Meredith] inside.\u201d<\/p>\n While the Wallabies bombed the two chances, as well as an attacking maul on the All Blacks\u2019 five-metre line in the 15th minute, it showed that Kiss\u2019 side can create opportunities to score.<\/p>\n Defence, however, will be the area the Wallabies need to improve most in November, after Kiss\u2019 side conceded 14 tries in the two matches against the All Blacks.<\/p>\n The passive approach put a spotlight on Scott McLeod\u2019s new defensive system, as the All Blacks ate up the yards and got well over the advantage line.<\/p>\n It meant the All Blacks\u2019 back row, featuring Peter Lakai and Wallace Sititi, had a field day, as the duo easily outshone the Wallabies\u2019 star loose-forward trio of captain Harry Wilson, Fraser McReight and Rob Valetini.<\/p>\n The Wallabies weren\u2019t helped by the absence of six key players, including centres Len Ikitau (concussion) and Hunter Paisami (suspension). And without their preferred midfield duo, the All Blacks trained their sights on Kiss\u2019 new centre combination and exposed Isaac Henry and Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii.<\/p>\n \u201cThey [the All Blacks] picked some beautiful lines, their passing was spot on and they just picked us off a little bit,\u201d Kiss said.<\/p>\n The pending returns of northern hemisphere-based Taniela Tupou (Paris) and Tom Hooper (Exeter), who were unavailable for the Bledisloe series because the Tests were played outside the international window, should stiffen up the forwards and provide Kiss with much more physicality.<\/p>\n Asked whether the Wallabies could turn it around in time for the World Cup, Kiss was steadfast in his belief they could, adding that the baptism of fire his side was experiencing would ultimately help.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s the time we have,\u201d Kiss said.<\/p>\n![\"The](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/8281b7c26c1b75cfe0eb74e089eaac0f7f1712a9.jpeg\")
The Wallabies have now lost 13 straight games to the All Blacks.Getty Images<\/p>\n![\"The](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/1792397053_48_e6c047be477cb4d92d7485d796952565149088e4.jpeg\")
The Wallabies haven\u2019t won the Bledisloe Cup since 2002. Is Les Kiss\u2019 side any closer to reclaiming it?Getty Images<\/p>\n![\"Joseph-Aukuso](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/1792397055_38_c40d3049c7b1aa599a825bf208eabe88d778c19f.jpeg\")
Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii takes on the All Blacks on Saturday. Missed opportunities were again costly for the Wallabies.Getty Images<\/p>\n![\"The](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/8c1edb5a2e3514a86f451f917335216eacf26e48.jpeg\")
The Wallabies weren\u2019t able to slow the All Blacks down. Getty Images<\/p>\n![\"Declan](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/050def92fb442ddb8840fb9e34032a22713d81c2.jpeg\")
Declan Meredith was one of the few shining lights for the Wallabies on Saturday.Getty Images<\/p>\n
![\"Joseph-Aukuso](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/1792397057_334_c40d3049c7b1aa599a825bf208eabe88d778c19f.jpeg\")
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