Les Kiss might have only been in the hot seat for a week, but the new Wallabies coach has already put a stake in the ground and placed some distance between him and predecessor Joe Schmidt.
The immediate return of Lukhan Salakaia-Loto for August’s Tests against Japan was obviously the biggest selection shift in what was largely a conservatively picked 34-man squad.
Few other pieces on the chessboard were moved, but Kiss has already hinted that more will come over the next few months as the Wallabies’ new boss does what should have been done in July and last November by casting the net wider.
Around another dozen players will be looked at over the next few months, including Japan-based utility back Jordan Petaia. The hulking Samu Kerevi hasn’t had a line put through his name either.
That’s important because next year’s long build-up ahead of the World Cup – the Wallabies will for the first time play a fully-fledged six-round Rugby Championship tournament and another warm-up match against Ireland – will undoubtedly take its toll on the field and depth will be vital.
But Kiss also gave two big clues about his coaching style, saying he will try to introduce more “width” to the Wallabies’ game plan and, interestingly, that he will be more “collaborative” than Schmidt.
“My points of difference will be in how I approach the game in attack,” Kiss told Channel 9’s Wide World of Sports program.
“I work off the strong principle of going forward, but I do like a lot more width in the game.
“And [I’m] probably more of a collaborative type of coach. I’ll make sure that every coach has a part to play and will lead their part of their discipline in the way that they can.”
Read into that as you like.
Kiss to try unlock Aussie DNA again
The so-called Australian way of playing rugby has become somewhat of a legend over the years.
Few in today’s game really know what the Australian DNA is because half of the country’s teams are coached by foreigners.
Three of the past six Wallabies coaches have come from New Zealand; the last full-time Wallaroos coach was Englishwoman Jo Yapp; and the men’s national sevens team is being led by third-generation All Black Liam Barry.
Two of Australia’s four Super Rugby head coaches are from New Zealand, too.
Kiss’s own Wallabies coaching team also has two New Zealanders, one Englishman and an Irishman on it. In fact, scrum coach John Ulugia is the only other Australian on the coaching team, and the former hooker spent the bulk of his career playing in France.
So it’s hardly surprising that the so-called ‘Australian way’ is more of a concept than a reality.
The fact that most of the Wallabies’ nine tries against a second-rate Italian side came from a metre out from the try-line also told a story of the nation’s attack, or lack thereof, in recent times.
Kiss, however, has made it clear that he wants to bring back an Australian identity and hallmark to his team, leaning on the desire to have a crack but knowing when to play and when not to.
“I [hope] there is an Aussie spirit that comes through,” Kiss said. “When you’re kids you just play what’s in front of you, you’re free of all the things that can get in the way. I want to make sure we coach at the right level and unleash what we’re good at.
“We’re a good, innovative type of thinking player and team. Let’s play with our spirit, but the other thing that’s important that comes through when we’re in the backyard or on the beach as kids, as we grow up, we’re competitive.
“We will go very hard into contact; we’ll fight for every inch. We just want those qualities to come through. When it comes out in the 80 minutes, we want the country to be proud of what they see. When we’re on the try-line, these boys will defend it with their life, and we’ve seen good clues to date with that.
“And we just want to make sure we can do our bit as a new coaching team. To enhance that as much as possible, give them every chance to live their dreams and blaze their own trail.”
New coach’s other smart call
It’s only a little thing, but the decision from Kiss to move to Sydney is a smart one.
It means that unlike Dave Rennie, who stayed on the Gold Coast and was the best part of 1000 kilometres away from Rugby Australia’s Sydney headquarters, Kiss will be able to look his bosses in the eye daily rather than via Microsoft Teams. That’s not something to be sniffed at.
Indeed, Rennie, who landed his dream job with the All Blacks earlier this year after being brutally axed by RA in early 2023, has since admitted he could have managed up better during his previous international gig. And that’s half of it, because the politics in Australian rugby are arguably more competitive than what you’ll find in Parliament House in Canberra.
Lesson for Wallabies in All Blacks bolter’s rise
You’ve got to feel for Du’Plessis Kirifi. The Hurricanes co-captain would feature for most international sides, but the Super Rugby star hasn’t even made Rennie’s 44-man squad to tour South Africa.
But his omission also speaks of the depth and competitiveness of the All Blacks, which is exactly how it should be. With Ardie Savea captaining the All Blacks, there’s no place for Kirifi in the team.
The easy thing for Rennie to do would have been to select the on-baller, but instead the new All Blacks coach has plucked Semisi Tupou Ta’eiloa from the clouds to tour South Africa.
It’s an astute selection because the bruising back-rower packs a punch and offers something the All Blacks currently don’t have: a loose-forward who hits the scales over 110kg and is capable of running over players.
Have the Wallabies been as brave in recent years to try to find a diamond in the rough?