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Code theory: Les to give Wallabies Kiss of life
Murray Wenzel, AAP • July 20th, 2026 2:32 pm
Finished at the Reds, Les Kiss will come into focus at the Wallabies ahead of the 2027 World Cup | Photo: AAP
You can imagine the skepticism when Les Kiss rocked up to South African training and told the Springboks' monstrous forwards to rethink their approach.
The skinny rugby league winger from Bundaberg, fresh into coaching and new to rugby union altogether, arrived armed with a theory - and sense of humour - that would shape his next three decades in the caper.
Recruited on a short-term consultancy deal by open-minded Boks coach Harry Viljoen, Kiss's focus was defence.
He had an immediate impact as South Africa conceded just three tries in the 2001 Tri Nations tournament, beating and drawing with the world champion Wallabies to boot.
Kiss will take over from Joe Schmidt, having worked with the Kiwi coach in Ireland previously | Photo: Dan Himbrechts/AAP
His influence stretched beyond the Boks' defensive line though and South Africa's "mind coach" Dr Steven Harris helped Kiss craft his "attrition v manoeuvre" theory into a digestible way to play.
"When they saw me, I comforted them by telling them I had a 100 per cent tackle success in my career ... two out of two," a wry-smiling Kiss, who ultimately spent 11 Tests across two years with the side, told AAP of his first meeting with those Springboks forwards.
Until that point the Boks had banked on brute force and relentlessness - otherwise known as attrition - at set piece and mauls.
The manoeuvre method was a high-tempo alternative, shifting the point of attack to create space and phase play.
"Getting into coaching, I dove into this world, this theory," Kiss said of a concept he'd borrowed from the army.
"That was 25 years ago and has sat under a lot that I've done. A lot of teams now have a great blend of that and know how to use both, but it formed a big part initially of how I approached my coaching.
"But all theories are tested over that 80 minutes and it will come down to how hard people are prepared to work for that gold jersey."
Kiss spoke to AAP ahead of Joe Schmidt's final Test in charge against Italy in Perth on Saturday as he prepared to put his feet under the desk at Sydney's Rugby Australia HQ on Monday.
Kiss played on the wing for Australia in the 1980s alongside rugby league great Wally Lewis | Photo: Handout/NRL Photos
From the stands, the incoming coach had watched the Wallabies surrender a halftime lead in a loss to France a week earlier at Brisbane's Suncorp Stadium, where he'd scored for Queensland in State of Origin 40 years ago.
It was the sixth-straight defeat for the eighth-ranked side and ninth in ten Tests.
A 57-10 defeat of Italy in Schmidt's Saturday send-off - the Wallabies' biggest home win since 2014 - provided some welcome respite.
"It was just a follow on of the feelings I've felt all year," he said of his emotions in the stands, having won the job to replace Schmidt before his final season at the helm of the Queensland Reds.
Kiss will name his first squad and deliver his first press conference on Thursday, providing the public the biggest indication yet of how life might be different for the Wallabies under Kiss.
It's a massive year ahead for incoming Wallabies coach Les Kiss and Rugby Australia CEO Phil Waugh | Photo: Dan Himbrechts/AAP
"Looking at the opportunity in front me, the deep sense of feeling I do have, is of optimism," he said.
"I believe in these boys, what's possible for us and our capability.
"I'm very encouraged by a lot of things that have been done and champing at the bit to get involved and get to work with my coaches."
Kiss's first game in charge will be in Osaka on August 8, against a plucky Japanese opponent coached by Eddie Jones.
Coaching the Wallabies was never Kiss's dream, though. That was to play Origin and then for the Kangaroos, which the 1986 Dally M winger of the year did with and against league greats like Mal Meninga, Wally Lewis, Peter Sterling and Terry Lamb.
Les Kiss earned rep honours in his first season in Sydney after moving from Brisbane | Photo: Handout/NRL Photos
"There was about four or five of us on his back ... you know what Mal is like," Kiss, a Brisbane Valleys star recruited to the North Sydney Bears, recalled of attempting to tackle Meninga in club football.
It was a league connection, current Melbourne and NSW Origin football boss Frank Ponissi, that led fledgling coach Kiss from league's London Broncos to South African rugby.
"Learning rugby through the eyes of the Springboks first was interesting and it was about eight to 12 weeks in, that the game hit me between the eyes and I started to understand it deeply, and it got me," he said.
"In sport goal setting can be specific, or it can be to do your best on any given day and deliver what qualities you can with the people you're around. That's what I've always done and things emerge from that."
London Irish's 2023 collapse forced Kiss to find a new home and Ballymore, looking to life after coach Brad Thorn, was calling.
Quarter-final appearances in three consecutive seasons was the Reds' record under Kiss | Photo: AAP
In three seasons the Reds never progressed beyond the quarter-final stage of Super Rugby Pacific.
But they twice set club records for tries scored in a season and won seven games against New Zealand sides, including the first over the Crusaders in Christchurch for 25 years.
When Schmidt's time was up Kiss was viewed as a logical replacement and he's since trumpeted "evolution, not revolution" when he takes the reins.
But they are different men. Kiss has his quirks and - a fan of both Taylor Swift and Cold Chisel - can rock a leather jacket and likely fill a swear jar much faster than his New Zealand friend.
"Music's a powerful source of emotion and quite inspirational in different ways," Kiss, who went to the Pink concert when the pop star toured Brisbane, said.
The fact he's Australian can't be ignored either and it's something Kiss will lean into as he measures emotion with strategy.
"Ensuring that spirit that lives in us as Aussies, that we're capable of playing in many ways," he explained of his mantra.
"That competitiveness, that instinctiveness and sense to find a way to win a little battle or big battles, they emanate from what we did as kids in the backyard or at the beach playing cricket or footy.
"Opening it up and allowing it to flourish in the world of international rugby, that has to be tempered with structure and order.
"The continuous focus is on working on those skills and the mindset to deliver on the world stage and let that sense of who we are come alive."
The new coach's first Wallabies assignment will come in Osaka against Eddie Jones' Japan next month | Photo: Darren England/AAP
Kiss will bring Jon Fisher from the Reds and has added Kiwi Scott McLeod to his coaching team.
And he'll have new sets of eyes on the domestic front, with former Blues coach Vern Cotter replacing him at the Reds in a historic appointment.
"I'm very encouraged by what we'll have in play there, and the part Vern can play at the Reds," Kiss said.
"Players need to experience rugby through different people, who have different experiences that can only enrich them."
The 61-year-old went to two World Cups with Ireland as an assistant but will navigate new, high-pressure ground as a head coach of the host nation next year.
Comfortable in his own skin, he's self-aware and realistic.
"I feel it all," he smiled in April when the Reds were in a rut.
"I'm an invested coach, emotional coach, but I've been through the mill a bit, through a lot.
"Resuscitation? Here comes the headline, 'Kiss of life'. I'll see the 'Kiss of death' coming at some stage, I guess."
