Les Kiss ha diramato la sua prima convocazione da commissario tecnico dei Wallabies: pochi stravolgimenti per i due test contro il Giappone del mese prossimo, ma un avvertimento chiaro: "ci sarà del cambiamento".
Unico esordiente il centro Isaac Henry, nella lista dei 34 per Osaka dell'8 agosto e Townsville una settimana più tardi. Kiss ha richiamato il possente avanti dei Reds Lukhan Salakaia-Loto, poco utilizzato da Joe Schmidt, e ha promosso il pilone Isaac Kailea al posto di James Slipper, recordman di presenze del rugby australiano.
Kiss ha rilevato Schmidt questa settimana, dopo l'addio del neozelandese con la vittoria sull'Italia a Perth nell'ultimo turno della Nations Championship. "Sono una personalità diversa rispetto alla leadership di Joe", ha detto. "Sarò me stesso, costruendo un nuovo 'noi'".
Fuori per infortunio Len Ikitau (caviglia) e Tom Hooper (spalla). Capitano la terza linea Harry Wilson: 19 avanti e 15 trequarti, partenza per il Giappone il primo agosto.
Ex stella della rugby league australiana, Kiss era nello staff di Schmidt con l'Irlanda tra il 2013 e il 2015; il suo arrivo, previsto lo scorso ottobre, è slittato per completare l'impegno con i Reds, con mandato fino alla Coppa del Mondo 2027.
Fonti
- [AP News](https://apnews.com/article/kiss-rugby-australia-japan-9342974beefddcdfd4179ed1bd6ac134)
Les Kiss names first Wallabies squad for Japan Tests
Les Kiss has named his first squad as Wallabies head coach, keeping changes to a minimum for Australia's two-Test series against Japan next month while warning that "there will be change."
Centre Isaac Henry is the only uncapped player in the 34-man group for the Tests in Osaka on Aug. 8 and Townsville a week later. Kiss recalled Queensland Reds forward Lukhan Salakaia-Loto, who won few Test starts under predecessor Joe Schmidt, and drafted in loosehead prop Isaac Kailea at the expense of James Slipper, Australia's most-capped international.
Kiss took over from Schmidt this week after the New Zealander finished his tenure with last weekend's Nations Championship win over Italy in Perth, a result that followed losses to Ireland and France. "I'm a different personality in some ways to Joe's leadership," Kiss said after unveiling the squad. "How that manifests, we'll find out. I'll just be me, driving what it is to be a new 'us.'"
Len Ikitau (ankle) and Tom Hooper (shoulder) are unavailable through injury. Number eight Harry Wilson captains a squad that includes 19 forwards and 15 backs, with the group due to leave Sydney for Japan on Aug. 1.
Kiss, a former Australia rugby league international who worked on Schmidt's Ireland staff between 2013 and 2015, had initially been due to take over last October but stayed on with the Queensland Reds before stepping into the Wallabies job through the 2027 Rugby World Cup. He said the recall of Salakaia-Loto followed "robust" discussions with his coaches and stressed he wants players "to bring their personalities to the fore."
"I won't be afraid to look overseas," Kiss said of future selections, "but... respect what we've got here."
Sources
- [AP News](https://apnews.com/article/kiss-rugby-australia-japan-9342974beefddcdfd4179ed1bd6ac134)
