Dylan Pietch's recall into the Wallabies squad after persistent setbacks ahead of an Australian home series next month against France will feel like déjà vu.

The French were the last side the Wiradjuri man played a Test match against - in what was also the Wallabies' most recent fixture - but that occasion in Paris was way back in November 2025.

The time before that was three months earlier, leading to an absence from Australia's next nine Tests.

The hiatus came after a horror injury and recovery combined with an unexpected medical condition.

"It feels like it's been a few long waits - as I have said before, I have been injured a bit," Pietsch told National Indigenous Times.

"And I now have been focusing on getting my foot back to normal.

"I have only played a few 80-minute games, and when I did get to come back up against the (Queensland) Reds, I did something else again to my foot, but it at least ended up being sweet.

"I have just tried to get some games under my belt to be honest, and I think I am now building quite well, which is nice."

The most recent flare up of his plantar fascia tendon in his foot arose during the 2026 preseason, which forced Pietsch to also miss the majority of Western Force's Super Rugby Pacific campaign.

That has been more frustrating than anything compared to the brutal sidelining one historic afternoon in Johannesburg that was spent in one of the city's hospital beds for most of the ensuing week.

That was following a heroic performance in the dead rubber of the series against the British & Irish Lions to restore Australia's pride with a stirring victory when he scored again to set up the most improbable win over world champions South Africa in last year's Rugby Championship opener.

The left winger's resuscitating try brought the Wallabies from 22-0 down before scoring the next 38 points to silence the vocal Ellis Park crowd.

But just before half-time, Pietsch wretched run of luck first began after breaking his jaw amid a tackle gone wrong on Springboks captain Siya Kolisi.

Pietsch missed the next five Rugby Championship fixtures, but his resilience was rewarded with a ticket on the plane for Australia's next overseas tour.

A second serious setback of vertigo thwarted his return to the Wallabies' lineup even further as Pietsch had to watch Tests against Japan, England, Italy and Ireland from the stands.

A lot has changed since running back out against Les Bleus inside the Stade de France.

New Zealander Joe Schmidt is set to walk away midseason as national coach after the back-to-back French and Italian Test matches for Reds' boss Les Kiss.

"I haven't really spoken to Les much about it - I also probably haven't reached out to be honest, too," Pietsch said ahead of selection last Friday.

"It hasn't been on my mind either."

While Pietsch felt he had a good relationship with Schmidt compared to the miscommunication with Eddie Jones around Australia's tumultuous 2023 World Cup campaign, the 28-year-old is unsure exactly what to expect from Kiss.

The Wallabies coach brings a strong body of work from his rugby league days at North Sydney Bears, going on to appear four times for Queensland in State of Origin on top of playing four Tests for his country.

Kiss's league background also earned the former winger a unique defence coaching role for the Springboks 25 years ago before standing as an assistant for the Australia under-21s, the NSW Waratahs, Australia A and then for Ireland.

He also went on to be the director of rugby at Belfast-based provincial side, Ulster, before taking his first top job in charge of London Irish and finally returning home to coach Queensland since 2024.

Pietsch is looking forward to a new start under Kiss whose philosophy and game-style could suit the one-time loose forward turned outside back.

"It's all very exciting - I think Les is a lucky get (for the Wallabies) as an ex-league player," he said.

"I have had a good conversation with him, and he also seems to be a good human, which is half the job.

"It will be cool to get to work with him, but I am not trying to think about it right now.

"I do think he will be awesome and will bring in some new ideas for me."