Wallabies assistant coach Laurie Fisher is hoping to end his tenure on a high as he prepares to follow Joe Schmidt and depart at the end of July's Nations Championship games.
Fisher will finish up following the Italy Test in Perth after joining as Schmidt's first staff member in 2024.
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The coaching legend had an extension on the table that would've kept him in the role until the 2027 Rugby World Cup.
However like Schmidt, family reasons will see Fisher step down as Les Kiss takes over, who has already appointed another unrelated Fisher, former English standout Jonny, to join his staff.
"I just felt particularly last year, you're away for around 150 nights away from home so to do the same this year and to do the same next year, that's a lot of time away. We look after my dad [aged 93] now, pretty much full time so I can't keep abdicating those responsibilities to other people, to my wife and to my kids," he told reporters.
"I just felt that 300 days away over the next two years was a bridge too far. I've [been] honoured to be involved and I never chased the World Cup. I never thought I'd be defined by being at the World Cup or not being at the World Cup so that never really came into my thinking."
Fisher remains open to coaching in the future within Australian Rugby, in an advisory role, to fit in wherever he can be of most use.
But first, the focus remains on rectifying the poor results of the Spring Tour as Ireland, France and Italy prepare to come Down Under.
All three teams defeated the Wallabies to finish 2025, with Fisher looking to leave his mark on the team, regardless of results.
“I'd love to sign off with three wins, it'd be fantastic but first and foremost, I'd like to sign off with three really good performances and if we happen to win, then that'd be fantastic," Fisher explained.
“I do want to see growth and growth in things that we've identified that we need to take forward...You get judged on your wins and losses on record, but as an individual, you judge yourself on: did I make a difference to that player, to that team, to that unit? So that's what you go away and judge yourself on. Other people will look at your win-loss record, but did I make a difference?
"I think we've got a real opportunity in a small window to make a difference for the team and for individuals moving forward.”
Fisher was bullish about the Wallabies chances, believing there's a 'massive hill to climb' if they are to turn themselves into World Cup contenders.
He believes the quality is there, with consistency the missing element between them and the top ranked teams.
“I do believe, looking at Super Rugby and even Wallabies, we just have too great a capacity to blow hot and cold," Fisher said.
“I think if we can blow hot and hotter and get used to delivering that week in, week out, which means that our training is of a level week in, week out, session by session and I think putting two, three, four, five performances in a row together will grow the confidence in my mind. That's what I think we need to drive.
"...It was a slightly disappointing finish [in Super Rugby Pacific] to have two sides at the qualifying-finals, but that said, I thought we had four competitive sides this year and maybe in the last couple years, we might have had two or two and a half competitive sides.
“I think the starting point is to have four competitive sides and then to increase the quality and the performances so hopefully next year we can sustain four sides who are still in for a qualifying-final spot with two weeks to go in the comp. I think it shows that there's a broadening base of player, we just need to raise the bar.”
