Australia’s 14- Test season represented the most games played outside of a World Cup year - and losing only to the World, Tri-Nations and Six Nations champions indicates a better-than-average season.

It must also be remembered that new coach Robbie Deans – feted as he is by the Australian media – took control of the national team just days after his focus was on Canterbury in the Super 14.

Australia seem able to compete with both New Zealand and South Africa, thought they admittedly beat them when the opposition played poorly. However, the Wallabies have shown a tendency to compete inefficiently for an entire match, either switching off and losing (as they did against the All Blacks in Brisbane) or only switching on when the game was already lost (as in the game against Wales). 

Equally, when the All Blacks and Springboks have fired complete broadsides at the Wallabies, they have had no answer, as their respective 29 and 45-point losses indicate.

Against weaker opposition – dare I say it, Northern teams – the Wallabies have shown a tendency to struggle to dominate structure against their foes. Italy and France outplayed them in the set piece, but a poor final ten by the Azzurri and a shocking display by French fly-half David Skrela allowed Australia to win. 

How could a team that competed so well in the Tri-Nations struggle against second-tier opposition?

It is easy to say that the Wallabies are re-structuring and re-building, but no more so than any other team in world rugby.

First, the appropriate credit must be given for back-to-back wins over the world champions, inflicting one of the All Blacks’ heaviest losses in years, losing just one game at home by four points to the world’s best team – and conquering their historical bete noire, the inability to win away.

But while Deans is a results man, and would reflect on that in assessing whether 2008 has been a successful season, these achievements cannot mask some lurking problems in this Australian team.

It could be said that the Wallabies have made continued progress on their great Achilles heel, the scrum, but while optimists could state that they subjugated a nightmare by beating England and dominating their scrum – the same eight were embarrassed by France and Italy, and at times suffered problems against both the All Black and Springbok packs. 

While Stephen Moore has developed into one of the world’s premier hookers, it is the lack of a class prop that is hurting Australia. Al Baxter and Matt Dunning are adequate stop-gap players, but neither will ever dominate, and should give way to the likes of Benn Alexander and Ben Robinson – both of whom need more development. 

Ideally, Deans will scrutinise Australia’s propping talent in the Super 14 and must select the form fatties. He needs players who will scrummage, not players who will plot to mask their deficiencies like Baxter and Dunning.

The locks and loose forwards suffer from inconsistency. In George Smith they have a world-class player to build around, and with players such as Hugh McMeniman, James Horwill and Richard Brown they have burgeoning talent that will improve over time. 

To rule the breakdown is to win the game, but a breakdown is not just governed by a man like Smith. A large part of Richie McCaw’s effectiveness for New Zealand is that he has 14 players who contest the breakdown with him. 

The Wallabies must remember that every tackle initiates the contest for the ball at all times – not just for periods of the game.

Like the scrum, the loose forwards suffer from not playing the officials suitably. Say what you will about George Gregan, the Wallabies never lost a game due to poor referee interpretation with him on the park. 

Australia need a leader within the pack. Either Smith or a Nathan Sharpe needs to stand up and ensure that the forwards play the game the way the man enforcing the law sees it.

However, the real hangover of Gregan has surfaced this year. He played in national colours for too long, and as a consequence, Australia are bereft of a class halfback. 

Luke Burgess has had the game time, but is lacking in high-level skill. If he does not perform in the Super 14, a new man – such as Brett Sheehan – should be selected. Wallaby halfbacks must stop taking steps before linking the ball to their back lines.

The outside backs are far from settled, with the value of Berrick Barnes shown in his absence. The 10/12 axis must be explored thoroughly by the coaching team. 

Matt Giteau certainly belongs in the team, but is his ball-playing brilliance better suited in the middle of the field? He is individually one of the best players in the world – but it must be asked, can he control a game in the manner of dictating fly-half?

Stirling Mortlock, as good as he is defensively and as a ball carrier, does not have the playmaking skills to do the Wallabies justice. Furthermore, Deans has spent years playing his teams with two genuine playmakers in the 10/12 bloc – his coaching is suffering having two crash runners in the centre positions.

As paradoxical as it may sound, for every strong point the Wallabies have, the same area has a glaring weakness. 

Perhaps Deans would do well to watch the natural structures of Australia’s Super 14 teams – for before he tries to mould his team into the “Australian Crusaders”, he must remember that he has players very different in style to what he has had with New Zealand footballers.

Australia 2008 Test results: Played 14, Won 9, Lost 5, Points For 319, Against 285.

Upcoming  fixtures: June 13, 2009 - Australia v Italy (Canberra), June 20 - Australia v Italy (Melbourne), June 27 - Australia v France (Sydney).