Wallabies coach Les Kiss is preparing his team to face the formidable Springboks, emphasizing a mindset of unpredictability and resilience as they confront the world’s top-ranked rugby nation. Despite Australia being ranked seventh globally, Kiss is determined to challenge the reigning World Cup champions, highlighting an opportunity for his squad to test their capabilities against the best.
Facing Rugby’s Superpower
The upcoming match against the Springboks presents a significant challenge for the Wallabies. South Africa, currently the number one ranked team, arrives in Sydney on a remarkable winning streak, including recent victories over the All Blacks. This performance underscores their status as a dominant force in international rugby and a strong favorite to defend their World Cup title next year.
Kiss acknowledges the daunting task ahead. “We have the Springboks in front of us next Sunday,” he stated. “It’s a massive opportunity to challenge a fantastic team that is second to none in the world. An opportunity to challenge ourselves too. We won’t shy away; we’ll take it on. This 80 minutes will be a representation of where we’re at – and who we are.”
Inspiration from Unconventional Strategies
Kiss has drawn inspiration from unexpected sources, including a documentary about “Move 32,” a strategic play that led an AI to defeat a world champion in the game of Go. This move famously defied conventional wisdom and human instinct, leading to a historic upset. Kiss sees parallels between this strategic disruption and the “Wallaby Way” – an approach characterized by unconventionality, freedom from constraints, and unpredictability.
“When you’re not constrained by conventions, anything is possible isn’t it?” Kiss mused. “Look at David Campese – unconventional, unconstrained, unpredictable. That’s ‘the Wallaby Way’. The beauty of those skills is you understand the moment, you feel the game, you sense what’s important now. It’s a sweet spot that seems mysteriously out of reach until there’s enough firepower or brain power as a group to let it happen.”
When questioned if the Wallabies had a similar disruptive strategy planned, Kiss humorously deflected, suggesting that revealing such a tactic would be counterproductive.
Sources of Wallaby Confidence
Despite the odds, Kiss points to several factors fueling his team’s belief:
- Recent Success Under Kiss: The Wallabies have enjoyed an unbeaten four-Test run under his coaching tenure.
- Past Victory Against South Africa: The team secured a memorable win against the Springboks last year, demonstrating their capability to overcome the formidable opponent.
- Coach’s Insight into Erasmus: Kiss possesses intimate knowledge of Springboks coach Rassie Erasmus, having worked with him previously.
A History with the Opposition Coach
Kiss’s coaching career has provided him with a unique perspective on Erasmus. His first foray into rugby coaching was with South Africa in 2001-2002 as a defense coach, where he learned the game through the lens of the Springboks. During this period, Erasmus was in his final year as a player. Kiss later deepened his understanding of Erasmus during their time in European rugby, with Kiss involved in the Irish national setup while Erasmus was at Munster.
“As a player and a coach he’s a very savvy operator,” Kiss commented on Erasmus. “Rassi thinks of the game differently and is always true to himself.” Kiss described his own approach as mathematical, drawing from experiences as a rugby league winger and strategies from games like chess. In contrast, he views Erasmus as a maverick, known for his unconventional tactics both on and off the field, which have proven highly effective.
Assessing the Springboks’ Strength
Kiss lauded Erasmus’s achievements with the national team, noting the significant time and investment required to build such a successful program. “What he’s done with the national side is pretty special,” Kiss acknowledged. “It’s taken a lot of time to build but he’s been backed, and he gets results when he needs them. Two World Cups in a row speaks to that. He’s also built unbelievable depth. Let’s face it: he’s got four first-XVs and has quality and talent three or four deep in every position.”
Building Wallaby Depth and Resilience
The Wallabies, by contrast, are working to build similar squad depth, a task made more challenging by significant injuries to key playmakers. Kiss has been implementing strategies to maximize game time and foster a strong team culture, drawing elements from Erasmus’s playbook, such as tactical flexibility, emphasizing strong forward play, and utilizing impactful replacements off the bench.
The recall of experienced midfielder Jordan Petaia, who has had stints in the NFL and French club rugby, aims to add pressure and competition, particularly for the center position occupied by Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii. However, veteran flyhalf James O’Connor, who was instrumental in last year’s surprising victory in Johannesburg, was not recalled.
A Mindset of Never-Say-Die
Kiss draws significant inspiration from that historic comeback win in Johannesburg. He highlighted the team’s unwavering belief and resilience, even when facing a substantial deficit early in the match. “The big thing in that game was that the Wallabies never looked beaten, even when the scoreline was not good [22-0 after 18 minutes]. They kept coming,” Kiss recalled.
He concluded with a strong message of determination: “That belief and resilience is incredibly strong in this squad and it’s evolving every Test. We’ve got work to do but take your eye off us, we’ll come back and bite you.” This statement encapsulates the team’s resolve to be a persistent and dangerous opponent, regardless of their underdog status.
