New Wallabies defensive coach McLeod's direct defensive approach ahead of Japan debut

Mon, Aug 3, 2026, 4:21 AM
Nathan Williamson
by Nathan Williamson
Defence coach Scott McLeod is focused on helping the Wallabies go after the ball. Photo: Getty Images
Defence coach Scott McLeod is focused on helping the Wallabies go after the ball. Photo: Getty Images

New Wallabies defensive coach Scott McLeod has a similar mantra when it comes to defence: get the ball.

The Kiwi coaching guru is planning to sharpen their focus on forcing turnovers after joining Les Kiss' coaching staff ahead of Saturday's Test against Japan in Osaka.

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The 53-year-old made his name with the All Blacks, serving as defensive coach for close to six years.

Now, he turns his focus towards getting the best out of the Wallabies' premier on-ballers and hard-hitting defenders.

"We've got to be in the right places at the right time to be able to get the ball," he said on his mantra.

"The real DNA of this team is about scoring tries and playing the footy that we want to play and throwing that ball around and enjoying ourselves and expressing ourselves.

"We just have to work hard, be accurate and just get the ball to be able to do that."

The Wallabies finished the July leg of the Nations Championship as the most prolific team in terms of ruck turnovers won, claiming 12 in three matches (per Opta), double of what Japan registered in their three matches.

With the likes of Fraser McReight and Carlo Tizzano some of the most efficient operators in the world, McLeod was out to empower their skills.

"The most critical point in Test rugby is around that collision point and the breakdown and how you do that," he believes.

"The referee's pretty hot on it at the moment in terms of wanting the game to flow and be a spectacle for the fans, which is good so we have to be really accurate both sides of the ball. As coaches we sit down and we talk about how we want to approach that, how we want to coach that, what are the strengths of our team that we can do well in.

"If you look at the Japan side, they are very good with continuity. They hold onto the ball really well, create a lot of LQB [lightning quick ball] and are able to build phases, so we have to be sharp in that area this week.

McLeod is very familiar with Japanese Rugby, finishing his career with Toshiba Brave Lupus after 10 caps for the All Blacks.

"They're playing a little bit flatter, being a little bit more direct and then if they don't get what they want there then they're looking to kick more," he said.

"So far this year they have kicked the second most out of any team in the world which is a real change for them, so their game management has shifted a little bit. We want to be able to try and get the ball before they kick, but also when it goes in the air, you've also got to be able to take that as well."

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