Why Wallabies are a better chance of winning World Cup than Bledisloe

October 19, 2026 — 3:57pm

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They say he who laughs last, laughs loudest. That’s what Les Kiss will be thinking – and hoping – occurs in 12 months.

It might sound crazy following their ugly 43-21 defeat on Saturday, but the Wallabies have a better chance of winning their third World Cup than lifting the Bledisloe Cup next year.

Next month’s Nations Championship could provide an insight into why, as Kiss’ men head north to take on England, Scotland and Wales, before returning to London for the inaugural “finals weekend”.

While Wallabies fans were left to rue another heavy Bledisloe defeat on Saturday – the nation’s 13th straight loss to the All Blacks since 2021 – Kiss won’t necessarily be in a spin if they go down in their second World Cup pool match in Sydney next October.

In fact, it could be a blessing in disguise.

Why? Because it would put them on the other side of the World Cup draw, setting up a potentially much easier route to a fourth final, and the first since 2015. In that scenario, the Wallabies would likely meet England in the quarter-finals before facing either Ireland or Argentina in the semi-finals.

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© Brisbane Times