DUBLIN: The Wallabies are in danger of slumping to their worst spring tour of Europe in almost a decade, but captain Michael Hooper is adamant the team is taking the right steps to rebuild its badly dented reputation.
The Wallabies suffered a narrow 26-23 loss to Ireland in Dublin on Sunday morning Australian time and now need to beat England this week to ensure they don't drop to their worst tour record since 2005.
Ireland's triumph was made even more impressive with news that coach Joe Schmidt was taken to hospital with suspected appendicitis.
Schmidt watched in agony as Ireland held on for their first win against Australia at home since 2006 and his side has now won seven Tests in a row.
The Wallabies are at the other end of the spectrum as they adjust to new coach Michael Cheika's game and the clash against England looms as a huge battle.
"If you look at last week to this week we're definitely improving," Hooper said
"It was an enjoyable Test and we're disappointed with the loss, but we've moved and if we do that we can go forward again next week."
The Wallabies need to beat England to finish their four-Test spring tour with two wins.
It's been nine years since the Wallabies have won just one Test on a tour of Europe, but they are confident they can avoid the unwanted record.
It wasn't all doom and gloom after back-to-back losses by three points which could have easily been turned into wins.
But the team needs to start adjusting to the new game plan and a win against England would be a massive confidence booster less than a year before the World Cup showdown between the teams.
"I'm not an excuse-maker ... it's still such early days in how we want to play," Cheika said.
"We showed a lot of resilience and toughness to come back at home. It would have been easy to pack up with one week to go and I'm very, very sad about losing."
The Wallabies got off to another disastrous start and trailed 17-0 after just 15 minutes.
It was the fourth game in a row under Cheika that the Wallabies had been caught napping in the opening exchanges and they were forced to chase the game.
Remarkably the Wallabies got back in the contest and into a position of strength before half-time after two tries to Nick Phipps and one to Bernard Foley.
The glimpses of the Wallabies' enterprising play are starting to show through, especially in Phipps' second try with the back line tearing through the Irish defence.
But early mistakes cost the Wallabies with international player of the year Jonathan Sexton finishing with 16 points and setting up winger Simon Zebo for the first try.
Rookie flanker Luke Jones struggled to find his rhythm and turned the ball over twice in the first half, with the second leading to Zebo's try.
The Wallabies could have hit back immediately, but what loomed as a certain try for Australia turned into an Irish five-pointer when Tommy Bowe intercepted a Phipps pass to cut off a five-man overlap, running 85 metres to score.
The Wallabies levelled the score at 17-all before half-time, but they defending for almost all of the second half and could only add one penalty after the break.
They had a chance to snatch a win at the end but errors cruelled their hopes again while Ireland have now won seven Tests in a row.
"There are a lot of good bits of the variations we can start to play … we just lack that clinical edge at the end, we don't have that yet," Cheika said.
"We had some good opportunities, we need a bit of composure and a bit of patience. It's believing in the shape for a little bit longer and being patient.
"We've got to go again. You're not tired when you play for Australia … we're not looking for any excuses. We'll mourn the loss because it was difficult and then we'll bounce back."
Beale ended his six-week Wallabies exile in the second half when he replaced in-form centre Tevita Kuridrani, who suffered an ankle injury.
"I thought Beale made a good impression early when he came on," Cheika said.
Ireland captain Paul O'Connell - named man of the match - said Schmidt had not said a word about his illness.
"He was, as normal, stand-offish," grinned the 35-year-old Munster lock.
"He didn't come too close to us all day in case it was something catching. He didn't want to distract us from our focus. That's the type of man he is."
Cheika was left frustrated with crucial penalty calls, including referee Glen Jackson's decision to penalise Australia at the breakdown which led to Sexton's winning shot at goal.
"I thought our scrum was quite good as well, but it didn't get the pay it deserved," Cheika said.
AT A GLANCE
IRELAND 26 (Simon Zebo, Tommy Bowe tries; Jonathan Sexton 2 conversions, 4 penalties) bt AUSTRALIA 23 (Nick Phipps 2, Bernard Foley tries; Bernard Foley conversion, 2 penalties) at Lansdowne Road, Dublin, on Sunday morning Australian time. Referee: Glen Jackson.
