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It would be churlish not to recognise Ewen McKenzie’s drought-breaking 14-13 win over the Pumas in Perth last night.
In the end it took some long overdue ticker to keep the visitors at arm’s length in driving rain and a howling gale.
But it would be delusional to think, for one moment, that the win has the Wallabies back in the big league.
Particularly so having watched the All Blacks-Boks game as the television ‘curtain-raiser’, where they played so much class rugby at pace, compared to the Wallabies-Pumas game that just went through the process, and the motions.
Sure the conditions were different, but the two internationals were as alike as chalk and cheese.
One played rugby, the other played at it.
Having placed the Wallabies in the space they earned, there were positives.
Ben Mowen must skipper the side for the remaining seven Tests of the year. In his (c) debut last night, he not only drove his troops when they needed to be driven, but he was always leading the front.
He assumed the same role that took the Brumbies to the Super Rugby final, and it was obvious last night the Wallabies warned to his leadership.
Tired of saying this, but Israel Folau must be given more ball, he’s a wasted match-winner.
The try he scored was so indicative of what he can produce, turning nothing into something.
In beating four men to the line, Folau yet again proved his point.
Lock Sitaleki Timani must start against the Boks and the Pumas on the road over the next three weeks.
Last night he replaced Kane Douglas in the 50th minute, and his impact was immediate.
But the impact would have been far greater had he replaced Rob Simmons. whose used-by date must be close to expiring.
The pairing of Timani and Douglas looms large, two big units, and if Douglas can get a bit of the Timani fire and aggression to rub off on him, even better.
Openside flanker Michael Hooper was man-of-the-match, he was everywhere.
But he would be even more effective in the battle for possession, which is his job, if he kept his swanning among the backs to a minimum.
And blind-side flanker Scott Fardy is getting more involved with every game. He has some welcome fire in his belly.
Half Nic White had a useful run-on debut, but heaven help the Wallabies if he’s there to kick the cover off the ball, and not get Quade Cooper and his backs on the move.
McKenzie wasn’t to know at the time he axed Will Genia that the weather in Perth was going to be so rotten that the White kicking game would be the go.
White is back-up material, Genia must return for the Boks and Pumas, having sat out the full 80 last night.
And if the Quade Cooper knockers didn’t notice some of his tackles last night, that’s selective viewing at its worst.
It doesn’t matter whether you’re a Cooper fan or not, he’s the best 10, and given the space Genia will give him, expect some fireworks from the Queenslander.
Christian Lealiifano had one of his best attacking games of his short international career, even though he’s still too small to have a physical impact.
The bigger worry is he had an off night with the boot, rare for him, and that very nearly cost the win.
Adam Ashley-Cooper is, and always well be, the reliable outside centre in attack and defence, while still coming to grips with his inability to pass to supports.
That constant failing has me completely stuffed, because he is a highly-intelligent footballer.
Especially with wingers like James O’Connor, and Nick Cummins, outside of him.
They have cemented their spots, now it’s up to their inside backs like Ashley-Cooper to give them the space to strut their stuff.
And I’ve left the most puzzling part of the Wallabies to last – the front row.
With a champion prop like Ewen McKenzie as coach, you would think the Wallaby front row would be unbeatable. Far from it.
Like everyone else, who are we to suggest the reasons why, when someone as highly-qualified as McKenzie obviously can’t find the answer.
Surely between props James Slipper, Ben Alexander, Sekope Kepu, and Scott Sio, with hookers Stephen Moore and Saia Fainga’a there’s a combination that can click.
But until the coach finds the missing links, the Wallaby scum will remain a shambles, and the ‘w’s even harder to get.
That’s why I say it’s delusional if the Wallabies think they are back in the big time.
There’s a long long way to go, but at least they can prepare for the debilitating road trip after cracking the ice.