Australia has won 83 out of a possible 105 lineouts (79 per cent) this year and have shot themselves in the foot far too many times when there have been excellent chances in opposition territory to come away with points. While a difference of 11 per cent might not sound like a lot, the fact the Wallabies have given up the ball 22 times from their own throw puts them on the back foot. The best teams in world rugby have a high functioning lineout from which they can launch set plays. Loading The reason these numbers will worry Australia’s coaching staff is that the Wallabies in recent times have been one of the most prolific try-scoring teams when it comes to first phase play. Across the three Tests in June, Australia won 89 per cent of their lineouts, but since then the numbers have been shambolic.

From the Sydney Bledisloe Cup opener onwards, the Wallabies have operated at a 73 per cent success rate, with the likes of Polota-Nau, Tolu Latu, Folau Faingaa and Brandon Paenga-Amosa in the hooker hot seats. Lineouts are a more complicated beast than just throwing though and that was no more evident than during the Sydney fixture against the All Blacks when the home side lost eight of 13 throws and was picked apart by New Zealand. Second-rower Adam Coleman said there was a danger of overthinking when it came to the lineout. “You can over analyse things where sometimes it is just one thing instead of picking on four different things," Coleman said. "It’s just making sure that everyone is across their role. Our planning is there, it’s just executing in the moment. Loading Replay Replay video Play video Play video

"It's just making sure that every individual is across their role throughout the team and not just knowledge but just executing it in the moment and staying in that moment.” Asked what he felt the issue was specifically, Coleman said: “Lineout's a lot more complex than people realise. You're coordinating eight guys at certain points to win a ball against a varying defence. Loading "In saying that we've got to control our controllables and our variables that we probably haven't been doing, but we're making amends on that and making sure we get enough reps in to training.” The lineout woes have once again raised the question as to whether the Wallabies need a specialist lineout coach or at least an advisor who could come in and give pointers where necessary.