Les Kiss took over as Wallabies coach in July 2026 with a clear task: build a team capable of contending at the home Men’s Rugby World Cup in 2027. Seven Tests into his tenure, the record shows both genuine progress and a stark reminder of the gap to the best.

The results

  • 8 August, Osaka: Australia 35, Japan 32
  • 15 August, Townsville: Australia 56, Japan 17
  • 30 August (AEST), San Salvador de Jujuy: Australia 27, Argentina 21
  • 5 September, Mendoza: Argentina 28, Australia 28
  • 27 September, Perth: Australia 42, South Africa 38
  • 10 October, Auckland: New Zealand 50, Australia 19
  • 17 October, Sydney: New Zealand 43, Australia 21

That is four wins, a draw and two losses.

A strong start

Kiss’s debut in Osaka was a narrow escape. Lock Miles Amatosero was sent off in the first half, and the Wallabies held on in heat close to 30 degrees, with replacements Angus Bell and Taniela Tupou making a difference late, according to Rugby Australia’s match report.

The second Test in Townsville was a different story after half-time. Australia led only 21–17 at the break before scoring five second-half tries. Prop Massimo De Lutiis, the 1,000th Wallaby, scored on debut. “We got challenged by Les at half-time,” captain Harry Wilson told the Nine Network. “I was really proud of the group in the second half.”

In Argentina, the Wallabies won the first Test 27–21 and drew the second 28–28 in Mendoza, clinching what The Guardian described as their first series win on Argentinian soil.

The Perth thriller

The highlight came in Perth, where the Wallabies beat world champions South Africa 42–38 despite being reduced to 11 players at one stage, according to Rugby Australia and the ABC. It was a result that captured the team’s resilience, if not its discipline.

The Bledisloe reality check

Then came New Zealand. The All Blacks won 50–19 at Eden Park, extending their remarkable unbeaten record at the ground, and 43–21 in Sydney in front of 73,399 people at Accor Stadium. The ABC noted that Australia conceded 93 points across the two matches, describing it as a harsh reality check for Kiss ahead of the World Cup.

What the numbers say

Several themes emerge from Kiss’s first seven Tests:

  • Forward power. Australia’s pack has been a strength, scoring three of the team’s four tries in the first Test in Argentina, according to The Sydney Morning Herald.
  • Discipline. Red and yellow cards have repeatedly left the team short-handed, including in Osaka and Perth.
  • Depth. New players such as De Lutiis and centre Isaac Henry have taken their chances.
  • The top tier. Wins against Japan and Argentina, and one against South Africa, have not yet translated into competitiveness against New Zealand.

Why it matters off the field

Wallabies performance is a commercial matter as much as a sporting one. Rugby Australia’s revenue depends heavily on Test match crowds, broadcast audiences and sponsorship, and the 2027 World Cup is a once-in-a-generation opportunity. More than 1.3 million tickets had been secured by the end of September, according to World Rugby. A competitive home team will be essential to filling the remaining seats and to converting interest into long-term growth.

Kiss’s next test is a four-match tour of the United Kingdom in November, against England, Scotland and Wales, followed by a Nations Championship finals match in London.