The honeymoon period is over for Robbie Deans as he confronts the greatest challenge of his Wallabies coaching career on Saturday - a Test match outside Australia.
In arguably the most damning statistic in world rugby, the Wallabies have lost a record 14 straight Tests away from home against Tri-Nations rivals New Zealand and South Africa over the past six years.
In fact, since the glory days of 2001 when Australia simultaneously held the World Cup, Bledisloe Cup and Tri-Nations trophy and beat the British Lions, the Wallabies have proven road kill for their four major international foes, winning a measly two of 24 Tests against the All Blacks, Springboks, France and England.
Aside from losing their last eight Tests in South Africa, Australia haven't won in New Zealand since breaking a century-old losing streak at Dunedin's so-called House of Pain in 2001.
And they haven't won at Auckland's Eden Park - the venue for this weekend's Bledisloe Cup and Tri-Nations bout with the All Blacks - since 1986, rendering the Wallabies' perfect five-from-five start under Deans on home soil as virtually irrelevant this weekend.
The New Zealand-born Deans tried to downplay the Wallabies' galling away record before flying out of Sydney airport ahead of his eagerly-awaited first Test in charge of the Wallabies in his native homeland.
"I'm not concerned about what's been before," the supercoach bristled.
"We've got a group of blokes there that are very excited about what's ahead of them and looking to make the most of it.
"To win a Tri-Nations match, it doesn't matter where it is. It's significant and we've got one coming up and we're looking forward to it."
The Wallabies' away record is as puzzling as it alarming.
Not since the John Eales golden era has a Wallabies captain won a Tri-Nations Test outside Australia, a shocking record for the only country to have won two Rugby World Cups.
And yet during the same period since 2001, the Wallabies have lost only six of their 29 home Tests against their Big Four rivals - and just one against South Africa.
The resurgent Wallabies have the opportunity to not only extend their lead at the top of the Tri-Nations table with a rare victory in New Zealand, but also leapfrog the All Blacks into second position in the world rankings behind the Springboks.
