'We didn't fire a shot' against England, says Wallabies coach Kiss

09 Nov 2026, 00:51 · CNA · Join

FILE PHOTO: Rugby Union - Bledisloe Cup - Australia v New Zealand - Accor Stadium, Sydney, Australia - October 17, 2026 Australia coach Les Kiss during the press conference after the match REUTERS/Hollie Adams/File Photo

Rugby Union - Nations Championship - England v Australia - Allianz Stadium, Twickenham, Britain - November 8, 2026 England's Maro Itoje in action with Australia's Billy Pollard Action Images via Reuters/Paul Childs

Rugby Union - Nations Championship - England v Australia - Allianz Stadium, Twickenham, Britain - November 8, 2026 England's Fin Smith shakes hands with Australia's Len Ikitau after the match Action Images via Reuters/Paul Childs

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Nov 9 : Australia coach Les Kiss lamented the team's failure to put any pressure on England after the Wallabies slumped to a record 45-22 defeat in the Nations Championship at Twickenham.

After a six-match unbeaten streak starting against Italy mid-year, Australia have come crashing back to earth with three successive thrashings, including two back-to-back by resurgent New Zealand.

A bemused Kiss said his team had prepared well for England, the first match of their season-ending tour, but he was at a loss to explain how they failed completely to deliver on field.

"It's not what we're about," he said about the nature of the loss.

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"Our training all week was really about making sure we found those opportunities that we believed were in the defence line of England.

"We didn't really fire a shot to get to those spaces."

While the team's handling errors and decision-making have hurt them on attack, their defence - run by former All Blacks assistant Scott McLeod - has been abysmal, shipping 138 points in the last three tests.

Wallabies fans may wonder what has happened to the team that upset world champions South Africa two months ago in a rousing display of skill and courage.

Kiss and his staff have a huge task to turn things around before Australia meet Scotland on Sunday at Murrayfield.

"It's not ideal," captain Harry Wilson said of the Wallabies' form a year out from hosting the World Cup.

"Every game we go into we want to be winning and three convincing losses on the trot is not good enough.

"We've got to bounce back. We've got seven days to take these learnings and be a lot better because we haven't been playing up to the standards we have."

'We didn't fire a shot' against England, says Wallabies coach Kiss

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