The Wallabies aren't making any excuses for Tuesday night's embarrassing 9-6 loss in the wet and wind to Scotland, but players are adamant reserve forward Rob Simmons should have been awarded a decisive second-half try.
Just moments after coming on as a replacement for Sitaleki Timani in the 54th minute,Simmons forced his way over the line - only to be denied by the television match official due to inconclusive evidence.
However, of the four or five angles shown, there was one shot which appeared to show the ball going down onto the line.
The Wallabies have gone out of their way not to make excuses for their latest demoralising defeat to a lowly opponent in Test rugby, but the benefit-of-the-doubt call to Scotland was the turning point in the match.
Australia were convinced at the time Simmons had managed to score his first Test try, and retreated back to halfway in anticipation.
Had the decision gone their way, the Wallabies would have broken the 6-6 deadlock and been on the path to almost certain victory - given the torrential rain and heavy wind in their favour.
It seemed only a matter of time until weight of possession would kick the Wallabies ahead but panic set in and they missed their chance.
Wallabies No.8 Scott Higginbotham said he felt the home side was unlucky, but had no one to blame but themselves for the loss ahead of Saturday's first Test against Wales in Brisbane.
"As you saw, Rob Simmons got over and that was unfortunate to be disallowed but that's the way that goes,'' Higginbotham said on Wednesday morning ahead of the team's flight to Brisbane.
"We kept hammering that line but couldn't seem to get over the paint so it was tough.
"There was a couple of ... I don't know about harsh, but unlucky penalties where they converted those points.
"They were just lucky to get that penalty at the end ... that's just the way those sort of games go.''
Wallabies' debutant Mike Harris missed two crucial long-range penalty attempts - but wishes the match didn't come down to his missed kicks.
"Hindsight is always a beautiful thing but, if that try was awarded, everything would have been different,'' Harris said.
