THE leak is now down to a slow drip. One of the Wallabies' standout features over recent years has been their impeccable defence. But that crown had slipped this season, as shown before they began their northern hemisphere tour - the number of tries scored against them (25) was higher than their tally (24).
However, on this tour the defence has tightened, with the Wallabies' line crossed just four times in three Tests - and one of those, the Richie McCaw try in Hong Kong, was from a blatant forward pass.
Without doubt their best defensive effort was against England, where despite having to make 159 tackles to England's 56, they restricted the home team to one try, which followed an attacking fumble by the Wallabies.
Australian assistant coach Jim Williams said the gradual improvement in the team's midfield defence had come after the players had learnt and perfected a strategic variation.
While Australia's resistance over the past decade had often been focused on a highly drilled, precise drift defence, this year it has also involved observing the scene and adapting to cover all options.
This has sometimes employed wide defensive players working back in towards the centre of the field to cut off the attack, and a defender standing almost midway between two attacking players, waiting for them to take the first movement and then responding.
"It's now more about covering threats, and looking at what's in front of you," Williams said. "It is more about responding to what you see in attack, instead of being so set. When you do certain things in defence for so long, it takes a bit of time to get that ingrained, which has seen it shown up in certain games. But the players are working very hard on it, and they're getting there."
Williams said midfield communication was imperative.
"We've got to make sure that guys inside and out are talking to each other. Staying connected to each other is the biggest thing about defence, especially when you are looking up and seeing what is in front of you.
"Maybe there has been a problem in players individually going up into the line, or not talking, or spacings have been a little bit off. And they don't have to be off by too much to get crucified at this level."
The attacking philosophy continues to focus on attempting to play to space and using initiative. But also they must know when to be pragmatic, as was the case against England, by soaking up the opposition attack, working off minimal possession and kicking for field position. "A lot revolves around not being so structured and so regimented in what you need to do," Williams said. "The way to attack is to have three or four options in where you want to go. It may be whether you want to hit narrow, whether you want to kick wide, over the top, or hit the backs.
"The players have been given the responsibility to try to work with that game plan, and if they weren't comfortable with it, they didn't have to do it. But they've embraced it. And it's always evolving because it's very flexible.
"We're basically trying to get them to think outside the square. If there's an opportunity to run the ball from your own half, then you take that opportunity. We are keen on guys backing themselves, and having a go."
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