The Les Kiss era is officially under way, with the Wallabies squad convening in Sydney this week for the first time under their new head coach — and with the clock ticking down to just 430 days until Australia's Rugby World Cup campaign opens in Perth, the pressure is already on. The squad gathered on Tuesday for leadership and team meetings, then worked through a defensive session at the exclusive Cranbrook school in Sydney's eastern suburbs, before a first full training session at North Sydney Oval on Wednesday.
It is at North Sydney Oval where Kiss has deep personal history, having played around 100 games as a Bears player during his time as a professional league winger — making it a fitting setting as he steps into the most demanding coaching role in Australian rugby.
A new philosophy: More width, more collaboration
While Rugby Australia has emphasised the stylistic continuity between Kiss and his predecessor Joe Schmidt — for whom Kiss previously worked as an assistant in Ireland — the new head coach has been clear that he intends to put his own stamp on the Wallabies' game.
Kiss has pointed toward a more expansive attacking approach than the notoriously structured and restrained style Schmidt favoured. "My points of difference will be how I see the game in attack," Kiss said. "I work off a strong principle of going forward but I do like a lot more width in the game. And I am probably more of a collaborative type of coach, and making sure every coach has a part to play."
That emphasis on collaboration is a notable departure from Schmidt's reputation as a highly controlling head coach. It was also telling that the very first session of the Kiss era was largely handed over to new defence coach Scott McLeod, a former All Blacks assistant who helped New Zealand reach the 2023 Rugby World Cup final after five years working with the side.
Defence revamp flagged as major shift
McLeod has taken over from long-serving defence coach Laurie Fisher, and those close to the squad suggest the most significant changes to the Wallabies' game are likely to come in how they defend rather than attack. While Kiss has yet to detail the full extent of those defensive changes publicly, insiders believe the adjustments will be meaningful.
The appointment of McLeod — with his All Blacks pedigree through a period that, in the context of 2023 in Australia, saw New Zealand reach the World Cup final — signals an intent to upgrade the Wallabies' defensive systems at the elite level.
Alaalatoa: Strong foundations already in place
Veteran prop Allan Alaalatoa, one of the experienced voices in the squad, expressed genuine enthusiasm about what Kiss brings — while acknowledging the process of getting to know the new coach is only beginning.
"He's very excited, and he's very passionate about the Wallabies and about us doing well," Alaalatoa said. "I'm just keen to learn more about him, and to understand why he does what he does. I've heard a lot of great things from the boys who have been coached under him."
Alaalatoa was measured about the transition, noting that Schmidt's two-year tenure had built genuine foundations the group does not want to abandon. "There's been a strong foundation built over the course of two years under Joe, and an understanding there's some really good parts of our game we want to continue to grow," he said. "But there are also little shifts that he wants to add, which he will do over time."
Super Rugby blueprint and what comes next
Kiss arrives with a proven attacking record at Super Rugby level. Under his guidance, the Reds were among the competition's most adventurous sides over the past three seasons — consistently ranking among the top teams for tries scored and offloads, with forwards running wide channels and a clear intent to strike on the counter.
"Looking at the Reds' attack, they definitely played a more expansive type of game of footy, which worked for them at Super," Alaalatoa said. "We'll just see if that's something he wants to bring in."
The Wallabies face Japan in a two-Test series next month, giving Kiss his first opportunity to begin translating his vision into results — with the Rugby World Cup campaign looming large on the horizon.
