Les Kiss, the coach of the Australian Wallabies, has called on his team to "return fire" against New Zealand in their upcoming second Test match. The Wallabies suffered a heavy 50-19 defeat at the hands of the All Blacks at Eden Park in Auckland on October 10, 2026. This loss marked Kiss's first defeat as Wallabies coach, ending their five-match winning streak since he took charge in July. The coach attributed the loss to New Zealand's dominance in kicking and aerial contests during the second half.
The Wallabies were outplayed in the second half, with New Zealand scoring five tries. Kiss acknowledged that once the All Blacks gained momentum, it was challenging for his team to regain control. He emphasized that the lessons from the match would be crucial in preparing for the next Test. The Wallabies will face New Zealand again in Sydney, a match that holds extra significance as the teams will also clash in the World Cup.
Despite the emphatic loss, Kiss remains optimistic that his team can bounce back. He stated that the defeat should not halt the momentum they had built. The Wallabies had previously upset South Africa 42-38 two weeks prior, and Kiss believes that his team's confidence levels will not be dented by a single heavy loss. The coach highlighted that they had identified areas for improvement and would work on those aspects to perform better in the next match.
One key area where the Wallabies struggled was in claiming high kicks. Kiss admitted that they were outdone by New Zealand in this aspect, which significantly impacted their performance. The All Blacks' accurate kicking and ability to win aerial battles allowed them to profit and secure a convincing victory. Kiss praised New Zealand's performance, stating that they deserved credit for their dominance.
The Wallabies coach emphasized that his team would review the match and identify areas for improvement. He stressed that the defeat would not change their approach, and they would focus on getting things right for the next Test. Kiss expressed confidence that his team could turn their performance around and compete more effectively against New Zealand in Sydney.
The second Test between the Wallabies and All Blacks will take place in Sydney, and Kiss is determined to lead his team to a better result. He acknowledged that the match would be a significant challenge but expressed his team's determination to bounce back. The Wallabies will look to address their weaknesses and capitalize on their strengths to secure a more favorable outcome.
The loss to New Zealand has provided the Wallabies with valuable insights into areas that require improvement. Kiss and his team will work on refining their strategy and skills to ensure they can compete more effectively against top-tier teams. The upcoming match against New Zealand will serve as a crucial test of their progress and ability to adapt.
Key points
- The Wallabies suffered a 50-19 loss to the All Blacks, marking Les Kiss's first defeat as coach.
- Kiss has called on his team to "return fire" against New Zealand in their upcoming second Test match.
- The Wallabies struggled with claiming high kicks and were outdone by New Zealand in aerial contests.
