The Australian press celebrated their national team's irresistible 33-12 win over Wales in Cardiff last Saturday to end an unfulfilled grand slam tour of the United Kingdom.
The Wallabies beat England 18-9, drew 20-20 with Ireland, stumbled 9-8 to Scotland before finishing their tour on a positive note at the Millennium Stadium.
"Underlying it all is the frustration of what might have been," The Sydney Morning Herald said.
"If the Wallabies had shown against Ireland and particularly Scotland what they produced against Wales, then a grand slam would have been theirs, and they would have found themselves applauded as one of the great Australian sides.
"Instead due to their Murrayfield stumble, and an inability to finish off Ireland, they will continue being treated as a promising, but flawed product, still unable to string great performances together.
"That consistency is something the Wallabies have to turn into a habit before they will be treated as a top-shelf team."
The Australian newspaper continued on the familiar theme.
"There has been too much boom and bust about the Wallabies in recent years to definitively stake out this performance as the one in which (skipper) Rocky Elsom's team turned the corner and began its remorseless drive to World Cup glory.
"At least we know now what this side is capable of and knowing that makes the road ahead seem a whole lot less scary.
"It now is clear these Wallabies are capable of winning the 2011 World Cup, which is a long way short of saying they will win it."
The Daily Telegraph said the Cardiff performance proved the World Cup could yet be within reach.
"If the Wallabies are to take the next step, victories over Wales and South Africa, in Brisbane, must become the standard, not twice-a-season lightning strikes in response to criticism," it said.
The Herald said the weekend win gave the Australian rugby public some encouragement that it might actually be worth attempting to book tickets for the few spare rooms that will be available in New Zealand for the next World Cup.
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