Testing time for the Wallabies

George Gregan and his Wallabies side are at a critical point in their build-up to defend the World Cup as they take on South Africa in tonight's Tri-Nations test.

Australia go into the test after three consecutive losses - their worst stretch since 1995 - including a 26-22 upset to the South Africans in Cape Town and a record 50-21 defeat to the All Blacks in Sydney.

"It's an important match, but it's not a crossroads," Gregan said yesterday.

"It's a good chance for us to get back into a winning habit.

"If we can get back into that positive frame of mind and start winning again, that's certainly going to help us."

New Zealand lead the Tri-Nations standings with a maximum 10 points from their consecutive away wins.

The Springboks have four points from the opening win in Cape Town, where Australia earned a bonus point.

A loss at Lang Park against the Springboks would be the fourth in a row for Australia, their worst roll since 1981.

The Australians then travel to face the in-form All Blacks in Auckland and a possible fifth consecutive loss, something that has not happened to them since 1968.

"We haven't spoken about that. We don't want to create history for those reasons," Gregan said.

"We're quietly confident we will get the positive result and get a good win in this match."

Matt Burke was the only casualty of the Sydney debacle, losing his fullback spot to Chris Latham.

Wallabies coach Eddie Jones again put his faith in three former league internationals - wingers Wendell Sailor and Lote Tuqiri, and centre Mat Rogers - and a game-plan to spread the ball wide.

Jones said critics had not taken into consideration the effect of injuries on the team and that the Wallabies were experimenting with players and game plans before the World Cup.

"We had a number of players who weren't available for our first three games, but now we've got virtually everyone available apart from Joe Roff and Stirling Mortlock," he said.

"We feel we've got the best players involved with the side now, so we've got to get the combinations and get the best out of each player.

"Every team in the top six has aspirations to win the World Cup, and the differential between those top six teams is going to be as little as 1 or 2 per cent."

Jones said criticism of Gregan's form was especially unfair, and the veteran halfback had the full support of the coaching staff and his players.

Already the world's most capped halfback with 87 test appearances, Gregan has been heavily criticised for his passing.

His detractors say his pass is too slow and that he is stepping before delivering the ball.

"It's a populist view to attack George," Jones said. "Whenever we don't play well, he seems to be the first one attacked.

"We've had all this rubbish about George not being a fast passer and we've had all this rubbish about people taking a step when they pass.

"In modern-day rugby, most halfbacks step when they pass.

"He probably hasn't been at his best in the last three games. There's been a number of factors that contribute to that, and certainly George takes responsibility for that.

"He needs to improve aspects of his game, but he's working hard to do it. He's a leader that everyone in the team supports. He's strong, he's professional, he's committed."

Jones' counterpart, Rudolf Straeuli, was widely criticised for making wholesale changes to the Springboks squad that edged Scotland and Argentina.

But he regained favour when South Africa produced a shock win over the Wallabies, despite conceding two tries and scoring only one.

After a 52-16 loss to the All Blacks in Pretoria a fortnight ago, Straeuli