Wallabies halfback Nic White ‘not proud’ of Australia’s performance in South Africa

Saturday night’s Rugby Championship clash against Argentina can’t come quick enough for a Wallabies side intent on making amends for a poor performance in South Africa.

Nic White says the Wallabies are some way ‘off the mark’. Picture: Chris Hyde/Getty Images

Wallabies halfback Nic White has conceded Australia is well “off the mark” with only four Test matches remaining before the start of the Rugby World Cup in September.

While his teammate Samu Kerevi on Monday insisted the Wallabies had plenty of time to rectify a host of problems evident in an embarrassing 43-12 weekend loss to South Africa in Pretoria, White’s assessment of the situation was less encouraging.

“That’s not one we’re real proud of,” White said on Tuesday.

“We went over there with a plan, (but)things didn’t go to plan. They (the Springboks) showed why they’re world champions.

“It shows how far off the mark (we are) … it’s a bitter pill to swallow.

“We’re not quite where we want to be, a long way off actually.”

Wallabies halfback Nic White (right) gets a kick away during Australia’s loss to South Africa. Picture: PHILL MAGAKOE / AFP

The Wallabies will seek redemption when their Rugby Championship campaign continues on Saturday night against Argentina at Sydney’s CommBank Stadium,

However, patience might be needed from Australian rugby fans, with White saying the Wallabies were still searching for “clarity” under Eddie Jones, who is just one Test into his second tenure as national coach.

“We’re focusing on clarity. We’ve been together for a short period of time,” White said.

“I’m not making excuses but we’re still finding a bit of clarity in the way we want to play. We’re getting there.

“Now the opportunity is to see where we fell short … and to really look at those areas.

“There was no sugar-coating it. We were straight into it after the game in areas that we weren’t up to scratch in and we need to find answers in.

“We’ve spent the last two days finding those solutions.”

White had no doubt the Wallabies would be “up” for the challenge of beating Argentina.

“There are a lot of boys hurting in this group at the moment, and would have loved the chance to have played yesterday if they could just to get rid of the demons,” he said.

“We don’t want to be the side that has to lose to get up to find a win. We want to get to a stage where we are consistent, like the good sides in the world.

“We know where we are and where we’ve been is not good enough, and where we want to go. There’s going to be a bit of a road there.”

Powerful prop Taniela Tupou, who is continuing his recovery from an Achilles injury, has left the Wallabies squad to get sone much-needed game time with Australia A, who meet Tonga in Nuku’alofa on Friday.

Props Blake Schoupp and Pone Fa’amausili have been added to the Wallabies squad.