Former representative rugby league stars Les Kiss and John Muggleton have made bigger names for themselves as rugby defence coaches. But Kiss will be hoping his career path doesn’t take the dramatic downturn suffered by Muggleton.
Kiss is currently shoring up Ireland’s defences at the Rugby World Cup, and doing a mighty job; Muggleton has been shunned by the ARU, despite a stellar career with the Wallabies under coaches Rod Macqueen, Eddie Jones, and John Connolly.
The Kiss story is current, with his career highlight Ireland’s first Grand Slam victory in 61 years to waltz away with the 2009 Six- Nations.
He’s given Ireland the kiss of life, having won all for RWC games in New Zealand, including the stunning 15-6 win over the Wallabies.
The former Kangaroo, Queensland Origin, and North Sydney Bears winger, with 100 first grade games to his credit, switched to rugby as a defence coach in 2001 at the request of Boks coach Harry Viljoen.
Kiss’ talent was immediately obvious with the Boks conceding only 11 tries in as many Tests.
From there Kiss looked after the defences of the Stormers, Cats, and Bulls before returning home in 2003 to link with the NSW Waratahs for six years under Bobby Dwyer.
Throughout the Kiss watch, the Waratahs consistently showed they were the defence pace-setters.
Dwyer sums up Kiss best: “Les works easily in a relaxed manner. He has excellent man management skills and work ethics.
“His ability to present his thought process to players is equally excellent. At the same time he is an excellent listener and thirsty for additional knowledge”.
A big wrap for Les Kiss from Bobby Dwyer, the 1991 RWC winning coach, and a hard marker.
Muggleton has been an international success story as well.
The former Kangaroo, NSW Origin, and Parramatta hard-man of 99 first grade games was a lynch-pin in Rod Macqueen’s spectacular Wallaby coaching career that included the 1999 RWC, the Bledisloe Cup, the Tri-Nations, and the historic 2-1 series win over the British and Irish Lions.
Macqueen will be the first to acknowledge Muggleton’s contribution on his way to becoming the Wallabies most successful head coach with a 79% win record.
Defence in the pro era since 1996 is paramount, and Muggleton’s among the best in the business.
The proof is in the stats:
* On the Macqueen watch the Wallabies conceded just 1.16 tries – 43 from 50 internationals.
* In the Jones era – 1.64 tries an international – 57 from 94.
* In the Connolly era – 1.36 tries – 34 from 25.
But since 2008, when Robbie Deans took over, and Muggleton was overlooked, the Wallabies have conceded 1.82 tries an international: 95 from 52.
Muggleton’s view: “Not enough attention is being paid to drilling situations.
“I see guys like Nathan Sharpe, Rocky Elsom, Salesi Ma’afu, and Saia Faingaa ripping in with no thought for their own safety, but further out from the goal line, where players have to make decisions, there is often confusion.
“Good teams – and let’s face it the Wallabies play against the top teams in the Tri-Nations – will make you pay if you’re indecisive”.
An incisive look at the Wallabies’ defensive short-comings from a class act either the ARU, or Robbie Deans, or both, didn’t want despite his outstanding record.
For the last four years Muggleton has been pottering with his defence coaching skills, helping out at Sydney club level, and he did link with Georgia for the RWC.
But next year John Muggleton will be the Melbourne Rebels’ defence coach, so he’s back on track where he should be. Pure poetic justice.
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