OPINION: Are the Wallabies in a better place now than they were 15 months ago under Robbie Deans? No.
Rumours of disharmony in the team, lack of communication with some of the younger players, and the incident involving Kurtley Beale and team official Di Patston provide an indication of the problems.
Then you have the disastrous tours of South Africa and Argentina, which only heightened the need for something or someone to be made accountable for the slump.
That has to be coach Ewen McKenzie, and he is under pressure. Based purely on statistics, it doesn't make for pretty reading.
In each of the past two years, the Wallabies have finished third in the Rugby Championships, securing four wins and a draw from 12 outings. McKenzie's Test record is poor - a 52 per cent wining ratio (11 wins from 21 games).
That ratio is the worst when rated against Rod Macqueen, John Connolly, Greg Smith, Deans and Eddie Jones.
The team did, however, have a run of consecutive wins (a feat that was heavily reinforced to the public) over last year's spring tour and the June series. But those were against lower ranked teams. That has to be kept in context.
The glaring stat is no victory against the All Blacks. There was the draw that should have brought a win in Sydney this year. Then there was a narrow win over the Springboks, that could have gone the other way in Perth, and finally the embarrassing loss to Argentina following another rout to South Africa in the republic.
I mentioned last week how this new regime prides itself on culture, but I keep hearing rumblings that all is not what it seems.
I understand a new coach has to impart his style on a team, but the question is what is that style, because for the most part of it, with all the talent at his disposal, the attack looks unimaginative and uninspired.
I'm hearing of players looking for direction, but getting none. They are desperately trying to keep the ball in hand and play, but it's one-dimensional. It looks pedestrian and is easy to defend against.
I believe the tactics have been dumbed down to a style that's not working with the team; there are intelligent players being stifled because the coach doesn't have trust in the talent he is working with.
Yet, how could the team have produced a performance like in the first Test of the year in Brisbane? In contrast, the second Test against France in Melbourne was an abhorrent display of rugby.
The directive was not to run the ball, but play field position. It was a moment lost in a city that wants to chase the game. How could a side deliver two vastly contrasting games in consecutive weeks? And to think they were also recently within touching distance of taking the second-place ranking from South Africa.
If they had won that match in Cape Town, it would have just papered over the cracks.
The losses this season in the Rugby Championship - especially over the past two weeks - have severely damaged the team's reputation. Eleven months ago, only positivity and confidence were oozing out of the gold jumper.
There are stages where the players look like they don't know what to do. Who is giving them direction? Who is devising the game plans?
Players get criticised for their performance, so the coach should be accountable for his performance as well. The ultimate responsibility has to lie with McKenzie.
I wouldn't like to be on the team bus at the moment - it would probably be a little bleak.
I wonder how the morale is before the final Bledisloe Cup game next Saturday.
They will face an All Blacks team quietly seething from the loss to South Africa last week. Confidence will be an issue and if the Wallabies get rocked again, the onslaught wont stop there.
A spring tour boasting four teams that will be looking to heap more pain on Australia awaits - Wales, France, Ireland and England. Ouch!
Matt Burke is a former test Wallaby.
- Sun-Herald
