The Wallabies' stocks will be mega-boosted by the return of World Cup stars Matt Giteau, Will Genia, Adam Ashley-Cooper and Drew Mitchell for the Bledisloe Cup series.
Michael Cheika delivered the good news during an otherwise bleak post-match wrap up, during which the Australian coach surmised his players were already being written off as genuine contenders against New Zealand.
"I don't think anyone's expecting anything to happen there for us now, so what we need to do is get in and work hard and prove them wrong," Cheika said.
That could change if Giteau, a 102-Test veteran, and the other Europe-based players come back in reasonable shape.
" The plan was always to bring the guys back, who I went around and saw in January - the ones who wanted to keep playing, and they all put their hand up to want to play," Cheika said. "Some have come back earlier; Kepu and Horwill, and Kepu will get a bit of a break now, and then the other guys."
Asked whether it was realistic to throw returning players into the cauldron of an All Blacks Test straight up, Cheika said: "Yeah, they're playing footy. It's just a matter of getting them back here and getting them fit, fit enough to play here in Test footy. It's a matter of getting back here when you feel like it's the right time and starting your fitness program."
There is no doubt the Wallabies could do with their experience and class. There were encouraging signs in Australia's five-tries-to-four loss to England but after becoming the first side in 45 years to lose in a three-game whitewash, there is plenty of work to be done.
Cheika reiterated the team's commitment to running rugby. "I want us to be able to play that type of footy – and we can do it because we've done it before – without as many errors. That means working harder, being fitter, being more accurate, getting guys to fulfil their potential more," he said.
"As always I accept full consequences from that style of game. That's how I've been brought up, when I came in to [the Wallabies job] they wanted the team to play like that, and that's how I want to coach. I believe that we can keep working on it and be in the situation where we can get results and play like that.
"It hasn't happened this time but we'll keep working at it mate, because I know there'll be plenty of people looking to put the boot in and I'm ready for that. But I'll always get back up, as the team will, and play that style of footy. The people I feel for most is our supporters."
England coach Eddie Jones said he was "grateful" to Australia but delighted to make history here this year. "I'm always grateful to Australia for what they've done for me in rugby but it's certainly nice beating them three-nil," Jones said.
Cheika credited his old Randwick teammate with toughening up the new world No.2 team.
"He's obviously added some starch to the team and they've had a good reaction from there as well, you know," he said.
"They've picked up, worked hard, and they haven't lost a game since he's been in charge, so you can't really say anything. It's plain sailing."
