'The only coach who'd be open to': Why ex-Origin winger Les Kiss is tipped to be next Wallabies boss

Queensland Reds coach Les Kiss has admitted to talks with Rugby Australia as the jockeying to become Joe Schmidt's Wallabies successor heats up.

Kiss, the former Kangaroos and Maroons league winger, has built a solid 25-year rugby coaching CV - including a spell as Schmidt's right hand man with Ireland.

That relationship has fuelled speculation that Kiss is the front-runner to take over from Schmidt at the end of the Rugby Championship in October.

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Schmidt is open to continuing work with the Wallabies as a consultant from his native New Zealand but wants to be asked by the successful candidate.

"It is open knowledge that RA have spoken to all the coaches in Australia. They have had a small chat with me," Kiss told reporters.

"I am focused on getting this (Reds) right... I am interested in winning against Moana (Pasifika on Friday). That is my focus, in all honesty. These boys are focused on that. That is my respect for this team, to go out and make sure we make a good fist of our first game."

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Kiss was asked if he would be ready to coach the Wallabies.

"I am ready to actually get to a captain's run tomorrow at Suncorp (Stadium) and go and nail what we need to. I've got too much respect for my team to be talking about anything other than the plan that we've put in place."

Schmidt is returning home for family reasons.

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"For Joe, I'm just happy for what he wants to do out of it – that's fine," Kiss said.

"A lot of us have a great respect for him and what he's doing. He's got a job to do. I know he's focused on making sure that we get this right this year, and that when we get to the Lions, we can do something special."

Michael Cheika set tongues wagging this week when he was spotted having coffee with RA chief executive Phil Waugh in North Sydney.

Wide World of Sports understands that Cheika's camp made the approach to catch up to RA - rather than the other way around - and he is still viewed as a long shot to win a second stint at the Wallabies helm.

Cheika, who is leaving his post at Leicester Tigers at the end of the season, has also been linked to the vacant Wales job.

"We have worked extensively to identify a targeted shortlist of candidates whom we believe are best placed to continue the strong progress made under the coaching of Joe Schmidt," Waugh said.

"We have also received a high level of inbound interest from quality candidates from around the world, reflecting the positive trajectory of the Wallabies."

Ronan O'Gara, Vern Cotter, Jamie Joseph and ex-Wallabies coach Dave Rennie have been floated as possible foreign options.

"I'm actually quite excited that Rugby Australia are talking to Michael Cheika," Wallabies legend Tim Horan said on Stan Sport's Inside Line.

"In my opinion, I reckon Michael Cheika is one of the top three rugby coaches in the world. Will that get him a seat at the table for the Wallabies?

"I don't know, but I reckon there's a bit of Eddie Jones in Michael Cheika about how to manage him... the risk is, you know, everyone saw what Eddie Jones did when you come back for that second time round."

Horan argued that the current NSW Waratahs and ACT Brumbies mentors should also be strongly considered.

Both have served as Wallabies assistants before - and have worked together.

"I think Dan McKellar and Stephen Larkham are really good coaches and should probably be the ones at the top of the pile for the Wallabies," Horan said.

"But I reckon Rugby Australia would be really nervous of potentially taking someone like Dan McKellar out of the Waratahs - just started - to then coach the Wallabies. I reckon the only coach who'd be open to having Joe Schmidt come in as a consultant as a Wallabies coach would be Les Kiss.

"Stephen Larkham probably no, Dan McKellar probably no... from what I've heard Rugby Australia won't tell Joe Schmidt: 'you need to consult.' It's the coach who gets it, they'll say: 'Joe's available, would you like him to come in and help out?"

Ex-Wallabies lock Justin Harrison argued that the next Wallabies coach shouldn't need to have their hand held by Schmidt.

"If they need a consultant in the environment to speak to them about Australian rugby and help them understand it in the job, they shouldn't have been presented with an opportunity," Harrison said.