Les Kiss might be the Wallabies coach-in-waiting, but Simon Cron will take charge of Australia A later this month for their one-off match against a Japanese XV side in Osaka.
The Roar can reveal the Western Force coach was asked last week if he would lead the side. It’s believed the squad will be selected by current Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt.
The Australia A fixture will be played on October 18 – one week before the Wallabies take on Eddie Jones’ Brave Blossoms in Tokyo on October 25. No wider Wallabies squad members are expected to play in the fixture, with Schmidt’s spring tour squad to fly to the Land of the Rising Sun on the eve of the Australia A fixture.
Interestingly, Kiss, who was announced as Schmidt’s successor in April and will take over at the Wallabies next August, will remain in Australia as he oversees the Reds’ two games against the Wild Knights in Queensland.
The fixtures were arranged before the Australia A match against the Japan XV.
But the decision to have Kiss stay with the Reds continues the coach’s hand-offs approach with the Wallabies since being announced as Schmidt’s successor.
Les Kiss (C) will remain with the Reds as Australia A plays a Japanese XV side in Osaka. (Photo by Matt King/Getty Images)
While Kiss led the AUNZ side against the British and Irish Lions, the experienced coach wasn’t with the Wallabies during the historic series and has remained with the Reds during The Rugby Championship.
And while Kiss is likely to drop in on the Wallabies on the nation’s end of year tour as he returns to England to see family, it’s not expected to be in an official capacity.
The unique coaching transition raises questions surrounding whether Kiss should be more engaged with the Wallabies, especially regarding the selection and contracting of players of national interest less than two years out from the home World Cup.
Simon Cron will oversee an Australia A team against a Japanese XV in October. (Photo by Paul Kane/Getty Images)
Meanwhile, the decision to appoint Cron as Australia A coach similarly raises questions regarding the governing body’s coaching pathways and strategic direction.
Despite the Force coach playing a role in helping more players from the franchise play in gold, he has yet to lead the Super Rugby franchise to the finals – something no Force coach has achieved other than Tim Sampson’s side reaching the Super Rugby AU finals during the Covid-19 affected 2021 campaign.
At the same time, Brumbies mentor Stephen Larkham has led the Brumbies to three straight Super Rugby semifinal appearances but isn’t thought to have been asked to lead the Australia A side.
Nor was Waratahs coach Dan McKellar, who, like Larkham, has spent time with the Wallabies and also regularly taken Super Rugby sides to the knockout stages.
