Why Les Kiss is the coach Wallabies need … even if Reds don’t reach Super Rugby semis

May 16, 2026 — 9:30am

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There will be a predictable reaction if the Brumbies and Reds are knocked out before the Super Rugby Pacific semi-finals – especially since Reds coach Les Kiss is about to take the reins at the Wallabies.

Australian rugby will be declared in disarray and the Wallabies doomed, especially since a cash bonus component in the most recent broadcasting deal was linked to Super Rugby and Wallabies wins.

It’s not that simple. While no Australian team has raised the ceiling in terms of performance this year, the Western Force have raised the floor.

The gap between the “best” Australian team and the “worst” is very small. As long as all four have shown some quality this year – and they have – there is no reason to believe this Super Rugby model is worse than having a title-winning outfit at the top and a weak team at the bottom.

In fact, one of the attributes of the current Springboks team that no one discusses is the near-total lack of........

© The Sydney Morning Herald