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The Les Kiss era at the Reds is officially deemed a failure as the team struggles to find its footing ahead of the home World Cup. This situation highlights the ongoing challenges facing the Wallabies as they prepare for a critical period.
Kiss took over from Brad Thorn, aiming to elevate the Reds deeper into the Super Rugby finals. However, he only matched Thorn’s quarter-final achievement, failing to secure a top-four finish. The Reds’ disappointing loss to the Chiefs exemplifies their struggles, lacking the cutting edge needed in crucial moments. A notable low point was their inability to defeat the Force, who capitalized on opportunities against a supposedly superior team.
With a win-loss record of just 55 percent, inconsistency plagued the Kiss-led Reds, particularly in their tight-five unit. The decision to release lineout specialist Ryan Smith proved detrimental. Although new additions like Lukhan Salakaia-Loto and Josh Canham showed promise, their impact came too late and at a financial cost.
Kiss now steps into the Wallabies coaching role with no deep Super Rugby experience—an unprecedented situation for Australian rugby coaches. As the team faces a less than desirable position 15 months from the World Cup, Schmidt's conservative selection approach will likely dominate as the Wallabies seek stability amidst turmoil.
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