The series is over – but for Rugby Australia, Saturday’s third and final Test is more important than first meets the eye.
Should they lose, it will be a public relations disaster – and worse could still be to come.
Not just because it will be the first time the Lions have clean-swept a nation in more than a century.
Not just because more pain is bound to be on the horizon with a challenge arguably even more difficult than notching a win against Andy Farrell’s side as they travel to South Africa to take on the world champion Springboks. A side that smashed the Wallabies twice on Australian soil this time last year.
But because the Wallabies will have little room after conjuring up the ugliest and messiest coaching handover international rugby has seen, as Les Kiss – the Queensland coach, who suffered consecutive hammerings by the Lions in July – prepares to take over from Joe Schmidt in August 2026. That’s right: 2026.
Current Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt (L), incoming Wallabies coach Les Kiss (C) and Rugby Australia CEO Phil Waugh on April 30, 2025 in Sydney. (Photo by Matt King/Getty Images)
Making it all the more ridiculous is that Rugby Australia spruiked the announcement as a triumph, saying it would provide “minimal disruption” and allow for an “orderly transfer” ahead of the 2027 World Cup.
In reality, all it will do is cloud the selection and tactical picture, leading to more confusion and instability smack bang in the middle of RA’s so-called “golden decade”.
If Schmidt was going through to the World Cup, few would bat an eyelid. After all, Rugby Australia have learned that simply changing the coach will spark a resurrection.
But the facts are that Schmidt, who has won seven of 16 Tests to date (43.75%), is leaving 12 months out from the World Cup. Nor is it any World Cup either, with Australia to host the event.
It’s disastrous timing for a coach, no matter how respected they are, to be leaving.
Schmidt’s reasons are well known.
The softly spoken figure, whose ruthlessness is well known when the whistle is around his neck, has family commitments to attend to. No one can begrudge him for not being able to see the Wallabies through to the World Cup.
Joe Schmidt addresses the Wallabies following their heartbreaking defeat to the Lions at the MCG on July 26, 2025. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)
Nor did he originally sign up for that either, with Schmidt initially penning a deal through to the end of the Lions series.
An extension through to The Rugby Championship made sense given the tournament starts in a fortnight and crucial World Rugby points are on the line ahead of December’s draw.
But continuing this marriage beyond that is madness.
It’s an imperfect fit and the antithesis of high-performance.
In fact, it’s second-rate planning, which will likely end in tears.
It also only occurred because Kiss was signed with the Queensland Rugby Union through until the end of the 2026 Super Rugby season.
But not wanting to pay the QRU out, or have a coach double up, RA settled on him taking over following the opening three Tests next July – an international window that serves as the start of the new Nations Cup.
Even if the Wallabies win, it doesn’t take away from the fact that RA should never have made a rod for its own back by announcing a coaching change that is more than 12 months away.
A rapid coaching transition made sense but prolonging it has only heaped pressure on Kiss, whose every result between now and then will be scrutinised to the nth degree.
It already started when the Reds crashed out in another quarterfinal. Consecutive heavy defeats to the Lions didn’t help either.
At the very least, Kiss should be with the Wallabies later this year because he will get a greater understanding of the differences between Super Rugby and the international game. He would also learn more about the strengths and weaknesses of his side 18 months out from a World Cup campaign. But it’s not going to happen – he will be taking the Reds through pre-season.
Rugby Australia CEO Phil Waugh. (Photo by Morgan Hancock/Getty Images)
Now, he’ll only get 12 months to work it out before the Wallabies commence their World Cup campaign in Perth.
As a result, every Test will be seen as a moment to cement combinations rather than test them.
The clock is ticking ahead of the 2027 World Cup. Unfortunately, RA is stuck in a dreamlike state, thinking that time will stand still for them.
Victory over Farrell’s men will help keep the lions at bay for now, but defeat will only intensify the pressure and spotlight on RA’s questionable decision-making more.
