The Wallabies begin their 2026 campaign on Saturday against Ireland in Sydney, a match that also launches the new Nations Championship. Despite competition from the football World Cup and State of Origin, Allianz Stadium is sold out for the first Test of a three-week series that includes France and Italy.
Schmidt's farewell tour
Coach Joe Schmidt, 60, is in his final month as Wallabies head coach before handing over to Les Kiss. Schmidt took over in 2024 when the team was in disarray and has rebuilt it, blooding a record number of debutants and achieving 11 wins from 28 Tests. The upcoming matches are his last in charge, and the squad is determined to send him off with victories.
Australia have lost their last five Tests against Ireland, their longest losing streak in 99 years of meetings. However, Ireland are missing key players including Caelan Dorrius, Jack Crowley, Andrew Porter and Mack Hansen. The Wallabies are ranked eighth in the world, while Ireland are third.
Nations Championship debut
The Test marks the first round of rugby's new Nations Championship, a 12-team contest between the best sides of the northern and southern hemispheres, played in July and November. Australian rugby is also buoyed by the announcement that the Wallabies and All Blacks will play historic Bledisloe Cup Tests in Brisbane on Anzac Day in 2027, 2029 and 2031 for the first time in their 123-year rivalry.
Next weekend Australia face France in Brisbane, then Italy in Perth. All three opponents defeated the Wallabies on November's European tour, where Australia lost seven of their final eight Tests and finished 2025 with a 5-10 win-loss record.
Transition to Kiss
The handover from Schmidt to Kiss has been carefully managed. Kiss, who coached the Queensland Reds for three years, has been working daily with Schmidt on the national side. 'I'm not going to be a big change agent,' Kiss said in April. 'It's not a revolution … it's an evolution. The right things, the big rocks, will stay in place.'
Schmidt added: 'I'll always be around to help Les but when he takes over I'll give him a degree of separation so he can set his own agenda and forge ahead. For now, things are transitioning pretty seamlessly.'
Squad and hopes
Schmidt has selected a diverse squad for his last hurrah, including uncapped players Lachlan Shaw and Miles Amatosero (both over 200cm), overseas-based stars Len Ikitau, Tom Hooper and Angus Bell, rehabbed heroes Tom Wright and Tate McDermott, and Test record-holder James Slipper, who came out of retirement.
'A lot of unseen positives are about to become visible,' Schmidt said with a twinkle, hinting at the team's potential. The Wallabies will need to finish Schmidt's tenure with three wins to inch his record closer to 50%, which would be considered a success given recent fortunes.
