Kiss of life? Why an ex-Kangaroo believes he can get the Wallabies to bounce back
Updated July 23, 2026 — 4:00pm,first published 11:11am
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New Wallabies coach Les Kiss acknowledged “there is work to be done” for the side to climb from eighth in the world rankings to be competitive at the Rugby World Cup on home soil next year, but he is confident the team has the requisite belief.
“I’m an optimist, but I’m a realist as well,” Kiss said. “And I do believe that these players want more, and they’re prepared to work hard for it.”
Les Kiss talks with media after naming his first Wallabies squad.Audrey Richardson
Kiss outlined his vision for the Wallabies on Thursday after naming his first squad – a 34-man group to take on Eddie Jones’ Japan in Tests in Osaka on August 8 and Townsville on August 15.
The former league international turned union coach finally took full control of the Wallabies this week, 16 months after his appointment to take over from Joe Schmidt was announced, and after a drawn-out succession plan.
Having finished up with the Queensland Reds and with Schmidt’s last three Tests in July completed, Kiss and his refreshed coaching staff began their tenure by picking a largely unchanged Wallabies squad to meet Japan.
In keeping with an “evolution, not revolution” approach, Kiss retained captain Harry Wilson and only called up a handful of new faces; the most notable being Reds enforcer Lukhan Salakaia-Loto, the big lock contentiously overlooked by Schmidt in July.
Les Kiss will begin his Wallabies career with a clash against Eddie Jones in Osaka.Audrey Richardson
Queensland centre Isaac Henry was the only uncapped player included after Len Ikitau was ruled out of the first Japan Test, at least, with an ankle injury that required clean-up surgery.
NSW prop Isaac Kailea also won a recall after being out since 2024 allowing James Slipper to return to semi-retirement.
After the Wallabies finished a middling July campaign with a big win over Italy, Kiss said he had leaned towards continuity at the selection table, and despite speculation he may consider Fraser McReight as a new skipper, Kiss said was more than happy with Wilson.
At a media conference formally unveiling his squad and coaching staff at Allianz Stadium, Kiss was asked about the state of the Wallabies side he is inheriting, and his confidence levels given the past three Wallabies coaches – Schmidt, Jones and Dave Rennie – have all had success rates of less than 40 per cent.
“It’s been interesting observing over the last two or three weeks. I’ve really enjoyed what I’ve seen,” Kiss said. “There are guys with an appetite to work hard, there are guys there with an appetite to get better and improve. And that gives me a lot of confidence in what I believe about the players we have.
“We want to win every game we go into. There is work to be done. And what I’ve seen in the last two or three weeks, and the times that I’ve been in the camps over the last two years, I believe that there’s more in us, and I truly believe the players think there’s more in them. There’s been a foundation set.”
Kiss, and new assistants Jon Fisher and Scott McLeod, were only “fly on the wall” observers in July and the sight of Kiss sitting in the stands, and not in the coaches box, drew criticism.
Asked if he’d have done the handover differently in hindsight, Kiss said: “Nah, hindsight, all that stuff, all I know is the reality I have in front of me, and what is for me and the coaches to do. Those ifs, I don’t worry about.”
Lukhan Salakaia-Loto has won a recall to the Wallabies.AP
While Kiss’ sales pitch to win the job was partly based on continuity – he worked under Schmidt with Ireland’s national team – the Reds coach said he was not going to be a facsimile.
“There will be change,” he said. “I’m a different personality in some ways to Joe’s leadership. There will be certain ways that I’ll operate that’ll be certainly different. How that manifests, we’ll find out.”
Kiss said Salakaia-Loto’s return came after a “robust” conversation with coaches and was never a given, despite their history at the Reds.
Ikitau will be sidelined for two weeks, Kiss said, but it is uncertain if he will be fit for the Townsville Test. Hunter Paisami, who returns from a knee injury, should get first crack in Osaka, and while Jordan Petaia was considered, Kiss opted for Henry over Josh Flook due to his positional versatility.
Les Kiss and his Wallabies coaching staff (from left) Eoin Toolan, Scott McLeod, Kiss, Jonny Fisher, Tom Donnelly and John Ulugia.Getty Images
Nick Champion De Crespigny, who captained the Wallabies against Japan in October last year, was left out, along with Corey Toole. Carter Gordon returns to the squad after missing the France and Italy Tests with a calf strain.
Kiss said he would “persist” with Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii at outside centre, but also knows he can play fullback and wing.
Kiss has been coaching rugby at the highest levels around the world for more than 25 years – first as a defence coach and, for the past decade, as a head coach with Ulster, London Irish and Queensland.
But a clash against Jones in his maiden Test is something of a full-circle moment.
Les Kiss as Ireland defence coach in 2013, with Irish stars Brian O’Driscoll and Rob Kearney.Getty Images
The Queensland and Kangaroos winger recounted the serendipitous story of how he moved into rugby coaching in 2001 when he was an assistant with the now defunct NRL team Northern Eagles, and was asked to babysit then-Springboks coach Harry Viljoen, who was watching training. He was offered a job as a defence coach in South Africa, and after 18 months in the role, returned to Australia. He met with Jones.
“I sat with him for three or four hours, and next minute I’m with the Waratahs,” Kiss said. “So he was part of kicking me off in Australian rugby. I’ve been in the game now, rugby, longer than I’ve been in league, and I’m really proud of what I’ve done to get to this position.”
The Wallabies just snuck past Jones’ Japan last year, and with several expat Aussies in their side, the Brave Blossoms showed good form in July by also beating Italy and pushing Ireland.
“He’s a sly operator, Eddie, and we’ll be all prepared for any mind games and all those sorts of things,” Kiss said. “He’s a savvy coach, he’s a good coach, and we know that. And he does have an impact on that Japanese psyche. So, we have to be ready for that.”
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Iain Payten is a senior sports reporter for The Sydney Morning Herald.Connect via X or email.