Les Kiss confdent latest Wallabies changes can unlock backline threats

Wallabies head coach Les Kiss is trying to keep the emphasis on developing combinations amid the Wallabies’ backline injury woes, and is rolling with the punches as he prepares his men to face Scotland this weekend in Edinburgh.

There was both good news and bad news to come from the latest week on tour in the Australian camp, with the team losing rookie centre Isaac Henry to injury for the rest of the season but gaining playmaker Carter Gordon for the final stretch of the inaugural Nations Championship.

As a result of the pair’s contrasting luck, Kiss has reworked his backline for the Scotland Test, moving Carter Gordon straight back into the No.10 shirt, shifting Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii to centre and bringing Harry Potter onto the left wing.

“Look, it’s unfortunate we lost Zac (Henry). He’s out for about five to eight weeks, somewhere in that space,” Kiss told reporters in Edinburgh.

“We were hopeful to just build that combination a bit more. But I think the fact that Lenny and Su have played 20 Tests, somewhere in that range, together, we just thought ‘let’s move with that’. And Potts has been doing a great job for us in that back three. And obviously, with Filipo coming on as an impact player, we just thought we’d keep that tempo. So it made sense to us.

“The other thing is Carts (Gordon) came through his final stuff last weekend on his work, and ended Tuesday in a pretty good space, looked good, and he’s ready enough for it, which is good.”

While Declan Meredith and Ben Donaldson have been sharing the No.10 duties in Gordon’s absence, the former NRL playmaker’s immediate return to the starting side once fit implies he’s still seen as the top option for Australia.

“Carter was probably the incumbent before all that anyway,” Kiss explained. “So he was in a position of strength from that position, moving into the early part before he got injured. So I think it’s a credit to him for the work he’s done over the last period with that broken bone that he had. He’s worked extremely hard, very diligently. We’ve had him with us working for a long time over the last month with our medics as well, just to make sure we got it right and understood where he is.

“And Carter will bring his flavour. We know that Carter will bring his voice, the way he loves to play the game. He loves to carry the ball forward. He loves to change direction, and he’s got a savvy eye for the space and kicking game as well. So it’ll be different. And I think for him to flourish, we need to make sure that we’re winning certain other parts of the game that give us a bit of momentum for him to play well.”

Expanding on that last point, Kiss said: “Look, I think if other parts of a game work better, everything opens up a bit more. So it’s not just one area and one person, and that’s not just coach speak. It’s true. You create momentum, and it becomes a clearer picture for everyone. And I think Carts will benefit from that focus this week, that’s for sure, and be able to open up some of the options we do have in our backline, for sure.”