Australia’s inconsistency continues to haunt them on the men’s world rugby sevens circuit after the hosts rued another missed chance on home soil.
Tim Walsh’s men were confined to the minor places at the Sydney Sevens and are due to play South Africa for fifth at Spotless Stadium late on Sunday.
In five games they produced the good, bad and ugly that followers of the team have come to expect and the coach is trying to eliminate.
A thrilling defeat of South Africa on Saturday night helped them squeeze into the quarters, while a brave showing against Fiji despite two injuries proved they could match it with the world’s best.
But a disappointing loss to Argentina in their opening game made the task harder and ultimately led to their quarter-final date with the Olympic champions and world series leaders.
Australia sit sixth on the series standings and need a top-four finish this year to earn direct entry to the 2020 Olympics.
They have won just once on the world series in seven years, with last year’s triumph in Sydney not having the flow-on effect they may’ve hoped for.
Former Australian women’s coach Walsh, who took over following last year’s Commonwealth Games, continues to be frustrated by their current standing.
“At our best we’re competing with the world’s best and when we’re not we’re down competing with the sixth, seventh, eighth teams,” he said.
“It’s that mental side; at our best we’re up there and should be on the podium. It’s about finding that mental toughness and resilience.”
Believing that it’s not simply a case of his side lacking the talent, Walsh hopes improvements will come without making changes.
“We are working on things to change that mindset,” he said.
“We’re bitterly disappointed, but they put in a really good fight there (against Fiji) and there will be some positives from that,” he said.