Deans upbeat about Aus after mixed results

Robbie Deans © Gallo Images

The Wallabies returned home from their failed end-of-season tour of the northern hemisphere on Tuesday, confident their preparations for the 2011 World Cup were back on track.

The Australians enjoyed mixed success on the seven-match trip. They won tests against England and Wales and two midweek matches against Gloucester and Cardiff but lost to New Zealand and Scotland and drew with Ireland.

Deans and his players were heavily criticised at home but he said the positives greatly outweighed the negatives and he was upbeat about the progress made by his younger players.

"There were a lot of plusses in terms of players who have emerged off very little background," Deans told reporters on his arrival at Sydney airport.

"It is evident that this group has a really exciting future. It would be great to be part of that, because I think it is a very exciting group."

The Australians have been steadily rebuilding their stocks since the retirement of many of their more experienced players after the 2007 World Cup.

It has been slow progress with the Wallabies winning just one of six matches in this year's Tri-Nations but Deans said they were on a steep learning curve.

"We've just got to add consistency, which comes with experience," he said.

"Obviously when you look at the profile of the group it's a remarkably young group and they are learning in the toughest arena.

"We're obviously not where we would like to be yet, but we'll be better for this experience, without a doubt."

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