SYDNEY - Wallabies coach Michael Cheika has seven months to rebuild the Australia scrum or he might as well not bother coming back for the World Cup, Australian media said Sunday.
England's Ben Morgan (R) takes on three Australia players in a Test match at Twickenham on November 29, 2014
The Wallabies' chances at next year's World Cup in Britain were again under scrutiny after England beat Australia 26-17 at Twickenham on Saturday, less than a year before the teams' World Cup pool clash at the same London ground.
The result meant Australia had endured their worst European tour since 2005 when they also lost three out of four Tests.
The team has been adjusting to life under new coach Cheika following the shock resignation of Ewen McKenzie in the fallout from the Kurtley Beale text-picture scandal.
Yet again the Wallabies' scrum was at the centre of the media's criticism, as it has been for the past decade.
"The one positive to come out of Australia's loss at Twickenham was that Cheika knows that the Wallaby scrum cannot get much worse," The Sunday Telegraph said.
"The pushover try credited to England No. 8 Ben Morgan in the 57th minute was proof of the Australians' technical deficiencies, but just as worrying for the coach were the three 50-50 penalty calls that referee Jerome Garces gave England's way."
Cheika believes giving the benefit of doubt to opposing packs is a pattern among Test referees because of Australia's reputation as poor scrummagers.
It is an issue he has raised with the International Rugby Board referees director, the newspaper said.
"There is a certain stigma about our scrum," Cheika admitted after the match.
"We're the only ones who can change the situation by doing something different, because if we keep doing the same thing we'll keep getting the same result."
Australian Associated Press said Cheika believes the Wallabies need to stoop to the questionable tactics of others to avoid more scrum woes at next year's World Cup.
While the coach admitted England were simply too good at times, Australia could no longer afford to be "too honest" in the area, it said.
The Sun Herald said England landed a huge psychological blow by dismantling Australia's set piece.
"There's a perception in Europe that the Wallabies are dangerous in the backs but weak up front and England took full advantage with their two tries to Ben Morgan coming off the back of strong scrum work," it said.
The Australian newspaper said English experts have already written off the Wallabies as a threat for the World Cup.
"Former England coach Clive Woodward was so disdainful of the performance of the Australian forward pack he has already written off the Wallabies as a force for the Rugby World Cup," it said.
"It's encouraging to know once again England dismantled the Australia forward pack. Australia can't get that fixed in next eight months," Woodward said.
Australian great Michael Lynagh was similarly dismissive and said the forwards were "the worst I have seen all year".