Joe Schmidt feeling the heat after cold Wallabies start

Australian rugby fans have become accustomed to false dawns and may feel another is unfolding before their eyes after the record defeat to Argentina in Santa Fe.

There was early-season optimism under new coach Joe Schmidt as the Wallabies whitewashed Wales and beat Georgia in a 3-0 start to the season in July.

But the 67-27 humiliation by the Pumas in the Rugby Championship has brought back the gloom that followed the Wallabies' group-stage exit from the World Cup in France.

Local media declared the Santa Fe shocker one of the "darkest days" in Australian rugby and a disaster for former Ireland coach Schmidt, whose appointment had been well received in the wake of Eddie Jones' brief and chaotic tenure.

It came as a massive reality check following the 20-19 win over the Pumas in driving rain at La Plata.

More pain may be in store when the Wallabies host an All Blacks side smarting from back-to-back defeats away to world champions South Africa.

The venue for the next Test on 21 September is Sydney's Stadium Australia where the All Blacks have thrashed the Wallabies by at least 20 points in each of the last four matches.

It gives Schmidt little time to repair the Wallabies' battered confidence or find a solution to the glaring problems of their forward strength and physicality at the breakdown.

Australia had shown impressive creativity in attack as they raced away to a 20-3 lead against Argentina in the first half at Santa Fe. But the game changed as the hosts asserted their superiority in the collisions and the Wallabies' scrum dissolved after starting prop Taniela Tupou was replaced before the break.

Quality forwards are thin on the ground in Australia but Schmidt has said his preference is to pick home-based players. Winger