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.
Seiran
Roar Guru
'* 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.' I think this should be 50 from 43, and 94 from 57.
PeterK
Guest
Muggelton got shafted because Deans wanted to be defensive coach. A stupid move. Maybe that was the offical story, it may be that Muggleton also went for the job and lost out, and Deans did not trust an assitant coach who lost out to him for the main job.
Johnno
Guest
D is all about attitude so the popular term i keep hearing at this world cup. It is also about skill as Les kiss is showing in exposing Pat Mcabe's running style and technique to in defence. And rugby league players often make great defensive coaches because they have to and are allowed to tackle in multiple ways, and also have to deal with people running at them form 10 metre starts very tough to do. Wallaby 99 team was awoke defence a total fortress 1 try in whole world cup great record. And under colony in 2007 england Q/f we still lost on penalties no tries our issues were the scrum but defence was good enough. South africa ae not at full strength, but it is teams like irleand , wales, and NZ i fear. Irleand and welsh defence was very impressive. Some of the punishment wales had to deal with against Samoa and survive that onslaught was really 1st class. South africa can defend but quality attack can cut them to shreads, the wallabies have done it sometimes in tri nations. No frans steyn is going to massively hurt south africa on so many levels. His big tactical kicking game and long range penalties especially, but in wellington where it is very windy long rang penalties are harder to get.
Big Boppa
Guest
Lordy - never let facts get in the way of your story - Kiss did not do "6 years with Bobby Dwyer at NSW" he did one year with Dwyer in 2003 and 5 years after that with Ewen McKenzie - it was a successful era for the Tahs - no question
Eric
Guest
I must say I have never been sure of the defensive coach's total job description, but I was impressed with Less Kiss' research, then planning, to undo Australia. He identified McCabe as running too upright, therefore vulnerable to being held up, which equals turnover, and also as having virtually no passing skills, therefore vulnerable to a defensive line that funnelled him inwards. Is someone doing this for Australia?
p.Tah
Guest
This highlights why Rugby League can offer so much to Rugby Union. I don’t understand why some in Union are so hostile (and visa versa at times) towards the other code. Critics of League point to the fact it is a simpler game but that is precisely why it can help Union. The ‘simplicity’ of the game allows those players and tacticians to hone those skills (attack, defence and field position kicking) to a much higher level in my opinion. That’s why Muggleton and Kiss are employed to help with defence, Andrew Johns helped with kicking, Macqueen, McKenzie and Deans employ backline moves (staggered attack with dummy runners) that are part and parcel of League. To do well in Union you must break down the complexity into simple tasks and do those task exceptional well. The blueprint of doing those simple things well is played out every week in the NRL. Rugby Union in this country has limited resources but there is an enormous amount of talent and intellectual property in league that can help Union if we put prejudices aside. Prejudices, mind you that are an artefact of a period in history that many of us have no tangible connection. Cross fertilisation is becoming more acceptable. If we continue done this path it can only benefit Australian rugby.
Blinky Bill of Bellingen
Guest
I well remember how water tight the Wallaby defence was under John Muggleton and could not (and still can't) believe he wasn't reappointed as defence coach. After all, he seemed to be the one effect coach that we had and they flicked him?? I wonder what John Muggleton would have made of that try scored by the USA or other short comings in our defence.
Bakkies
Guest
The Wallabies have too many players who think that tackling is optional or have poor techniques.
AC
Guest
Yeah I don't know who Muggo p1ssed off on his way at the ARU, but I think it stinks that he has been overlooked for so long in Australia.
Mals
Guest
Gald to hear Muggleton is going to the Rebels, he has a big job plugging their defensive holes. Hopefully he can teach Ciprani what his shoulders are used for! -- Comment left via The Roar's iPhone app. Download The Roar's iPhone App in the App Store here.