Wallabies won't shy away from 'license to play' under Kiss

It's refreshing to hear the players expressing genuine enjoyment about the game, not just revelling in the victory glow. That bodes well for the next few fixtures.

Kiss will have learned a lot more about his players from that performance than he knew before with the challenging conditions adding an additional dimension.

As a result, some players will be in further credit like Canham, Potter, Paisami and Henry while others like JAS, Wright, Meredith and Jorgo have significant work to do.

This is entirely to be expected after a change of management but the definite shift to playing more direct shows clear evidence of exactly how Kiss wants his teams to be playing.

Having said that, the nous and intelligence in how the Wallabies use the ball is still lacking and until this improves substantially they're going to continue to make life difficult for themselves.

Aside from sabotaging themselves and putting themselves under pressure, it keeps allowing the opposition to get on top of them and turns what should be victories, even close ones, into defeats.

The principle issue lies in what options players take and when they take them. It's all very well to have an attacking mindset but what you try to do in enforcing that has to make sense for the context.

McReight’s brainlet solo effort off a quick tap is a case in point but far from the only example in that game.

He takes it quickly in order to catch the Japanese napping but he's entirely on his own and inevitably turns over what was a prime attacking opportunity when the Wallabies had the momentum.

Losing the ball causes a momentum swing leading to a sustained passage of Japanese attack which culminates in a red card to Australia and a try to them.

From what should have been setting up a platform for Australia to extend their lead instead turned into the man advantage for Japan and all scores level at the half.

And just on that the exit kicking from Lonergan but particularly from both Meredith and Wright was woeful.

Every time they went to clear from inside the 22 they shanked it out barely 10-15 metres from where they kicked it, leading to Japan constantly being able to rese their offence from inside the Wallabies’ half.

It meant that the forwards who were already having to work out of their skins due to the conditions having to dig even deeper on repeat passages just to keep Japan from scoring.

I also don't understand why it always has to be from 9, 10 or 15 that the clearance comes. Any number in the back line should be able to pull off a clearing kick and sometimes not putting it all on the 9 or 10 is the better option.

I’d like to see the likes of Potter and Jorgo and Paisami and JAS and Henry booting it if the opportunity is there and it makes sense to do so.

They all have decent kicking ability they just don't use it. And it's incredible how often when our 11, 12, 13 or 14 kicks they make something awesome happen or at least create a chance.

I find it very surprising that with the on point goal kicking from both teams that no field goals were attempted.

A game like that on the weekend is exactly the sort of encounter where field goals can make a huge difference as it ticks over the scoreboard while giving your guys a momentary break and you receive the ball back on the next passage.

Surely scoring points at any opportunity is as much a part of attack-minded rugby as going for tries is and with the additional benefits that field goals provide it's perplexing to me that so few get attempted especially when you're in a tight contest and you're not winning the up front battle.

I guess that sort of thing is up to players to do if they see the chance and want to take it.

Again, the lack of nous is probably why it's so seldom executed. And I can't help but wonder if the “leadership” group is who is dictating this and why it doesn't happen.

I fully understand backing yourself for 7 points but one needs to be much more adaptive and flexible to the circumstances.

If guys are struggling in the heat, go the posts. If you're not getting the reliable go forward that you're investing so heavily to achieve, go the posts.

And the difference between going a field goal as opposed to a penalty goal is that it completely changes the momentum as it occurs in general play.

Sometimes that is exactly what is needed to swing the game in your favour.

Honestly, their attacking fluency was a shadow of what we saw in the first 3 tests. I hope Paisami gets his no look passing angles out the back better for Declan to collect on the sweeping run.

It would also be great for the Wallabies to switch their intensity back on in defence. We were playing good heads up defence late in Schmidts tenure, but we have been looking lacklustre lately.

And why oh why in defence, are we STILL not crowding the space the ball is going towards and not effectively covering our mates inside shoulder. The Kiwis and SA in particular, do this very well. It takes away attacking options, and leaves the ball carrier feeling like there are 20 defenders on the field.

It’s like we switch on for attack, and switch off for defence.

Play ? That would be a good idea .

30 degrees is not hot . The Japanese had the same conditions .

Les has gone the Reds high risk way .

It seldom works !