Supercoach Robbie Deans is licking his lips ahead of a first chance to help the Wallabies "master old habits" after blowing a massive Tri-Nations opportunity.

Deans is looking forward to four upcoming training camps leading into the six-match Spring Tour to finally deal with the skill, technique and mental issues which have hamstrung Australia.

The Kiwi coach cut a proud but frustrated figure as he bemoaned a Test of Wallabies' missed chances after they failed to kill off the All Blacks at Suncorp Stadium.

New Zealand's second-half comeback from 10 points down for a thrilling 28-24 win denied the home side their first Tri-Nations title since 2001 and also kept the Bledisloe Cup across the Tasman for the sixth straight year.

In his first season in charge, Deans admitted he would have been satisfied at the start of the year if told the Wallabies would have beaten South Africa twice and New Zealand once before going within a try of winning the tournament.

But having missed the major prize, there's a desperation to "harness the suffering" and build a winning culture.

"I was proud of the effort, but frustrated to get close and not nail it," Deans said.

"The All Blacks have got a habit of getting home, we're coming in, we're not there yet.

"We let them in softly and that was disappointing."

Deans and skipper Stirling Mortlock most specifically rued three straight converted All Blacks tries from Australian turnovers and missed tackles which turned the game from 17-7 to 17-28 in 17 minutes.

Deans has chosen against tinkering with players' foibles during the cut and thrust of the intense Tri-Nations to safeguard their confidence.

But he said preparations for the Spring Tour - which kicks off with a November 1 clash with New Zealand in Hong Kong - provided valuable time to get into the specifics to "master" bad habits.

"We have a two week-break now which is good and then we have our first opportunity to actually really work on and perfect some of our habits whether they be skill or technique or mental skills or team skills," said Deans, who declined to name the most concerning areas.

"There's a whole lot of little things, and it's generally the little things that bite you. It's also the little things that allow you to thrive.

"A (training) block without a Test match at the end of each week means you can actually push on and really push the barrier and get some lasting change without the anxiety of being tested."

The Wallabies will name a 33-man squad for the northern hemisphere tour which also includes Tests against Italy, England, France and Wales before a mid-week Barbarians clash.

No.8 Wycliff Palu (knee) is in serious doubt after suffering a grade two medial ligament strain, which Deans said made him "touch and go" for the tour.

Western Force back-rower Richard Brown looms as Palu's potential replacement at the back of the scrum after a rugged Test debut off the bench.

Brown was a handful for the All Blacks defence and made a key charge which set the platform for James Horwill's 45th-minute try.

Deans felt the emergence of rookie internationals like Brown, Peter Hynes and Ryan Cross should have Wallabies fans upbeat about the future.

"Browny is a great example of what's possible," he said. "He's a bloke that's just toiled away working at what's important to him and us, such that when the call came he thrived and that's the opportunity we've got."

Former Wallabies skipper Phil Kearns pre-empted changes due to the mental frailties which saw Australia collapse 53-8 to South Africa a fortnight ago and in the second-half.

"Heads will roll to fix those problems," he told Fox Sports.

But it's hard to see many cut, especially with just backs Luke Burgess and Berrick Barnes to return from injury.

Brought to you by AAP © 2024 AAP