The tone from across the Tasman was decidedly different, after the Wallabies' much-improved display in their hardfought Bledisloe Cup defeat at Dunedin.
The Australian media tore shreds out of their team last weekend, when the All Blacks blew them off the pitch at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.
Despite blowing a big lead against a second-string NZ side, there was a far more optimism in the immediate aftermath of the latest result, although others struggled to shake the sense they'd squandered a golden opportunity to break a 22-year drought on NZ soil.
All Blacks deliver another heartbreaking loss after courageous Wallabies effort
By Iain Payten - Sydney Morning Herald
"A Quade Cooper fumble and a lack of experienced front-rowers proved costly after the All Blacks rallied from behind to yet again deliver a heartbreaking loss to the Wallabies in the final minutes in Dunedin on Saturday.
"It was a spirited performance, with lots of positives from a Wallabies side which hasn't shown much in 2023, but it left coach Eddie Jones with a scowl on his face at full-time, knowing full well the Wallabies had blown a major chance to down the All Blacks.
"But the Wallabies fell away in the second half, and allowed the All Blacks to power back into the game via the self-inflicted damage of penalties, handling errors and poor breakdown effectiveness.
"Having rolled out their star players off the bench, the All Blacks gratefully accepted all the chances and scored almost every time they came down to Australia's quarter."
Heartbreak as Wallabies produce one of all-time Bledisloe chokes
By Jamie Pandaram - The Australian
"Australia has unbelievably squandered the chance to beat the All Blacks for the first time in 22 years in New Zealand.
"Leading 17-3 at halftime, the bumbling Wallabies lost 23-20 in a thrilling Bledisloe Cup contest in Dunedin.
"While the result will harshly sting the team, there were finally some strong signs that they are making rapid improvement under coach Eddie Jones.
"In the end, however, this was the result of a team used to losing, who couldn’t close out a game they should certainly have won."
Why Dunedin heartbreak could prove a World Cup blessing for Wallabies
By Iain Payten - Sydney Morning Herald
"The improvements were obvious and everywhere, and compared to the group that was physically blown off the park in Pretoria, the Wallabies were a different team. In the first 40 minutes, Australia were unquestionably the dominant side.
Running with power and purpose, the Wallabies won the collisions and the rivers of goodness flowed thereafter. The All Blacks back-pedalled, Australians got arms free and, after barely seeing the red zones of the Springboks and the Pumas, the Wallabies set up camp in the Kiwi half.
A victory over the All Blacks in New Zealand for the first time in 22 years would have been sweet, no doubt. After a tough start, it would have given the Wallabies some much-needed good vibes at home and a huge boost of confidence heading towards the World Cup.
But would it have helped them go deep at the World Cup? That's an entirely different question.
After such a strong first-half, the Wallabies' second-half performance was frustratingly pale, with self-inflicted damage allowing the Kiwis to turn pressure into points. It was a display of patient predation from New Zealand."
Wallabies give fans reason to dream
By Julian Linden - The Australian
"Maybe, just maybe, there's a glimmer of hope for the Wallabies after all.
"And it's not because they came close to beating the All Blacks in New Zealand just seven days after getting humiliated at home.
"It was an improved performance but it was still a loss and if ever the Wallabies think that losing to the All Blacks is a good result then they should give the game up.
"Thankfully, the Wallabies aren't at that point yet - and that's the straw which Wallabies fans can clutch on to.
"If the first step to solving a problem is owning up to it, perhaps the Wallabies have turned the corner.
"For too long, the usual backslappers keep telling the Wallabies how wonderful they are, but Eddie Jones and his players have stopped listening and are calling things as they really are.
"He knows Saturday's 23-20 loss to the All Blacks in Dunedin was by far the best performance the Wallabies have produced since he replaced the ineffective Dave Rennie.
"And he knows that with a highly favourable draw the Wallabies have genuine hope of making a deep run at the World Cup, starting in France next month."
'Gutted' Wallabies blow big lead as All Blacks claim 2-0 Bledisloe Cup series win in thriller
By Simon Chapman - Channel Nine Australia
"The more things change, the more they stay the same - and although the All Blacks made sweeping changes to their starting XV, the Wallabies couldn't convert a scintillating start into victory on Saturday.
"The men in gold stunned the sea of fans dressed in black to lead 17-3 at halftime, dominating the first 40 minutes with 75 per cent possession under the roof at Forsyth Barr Stadium.
"But if the Wallabies were a 20-minute side in their opening Bledisloe Cup loss in Melbourne then they were a 40-minute side in Dunedin.
"Having been so strong in the first half, the Wallabies' dreaded 'd word' - discipline - came back to haunt them as they conceded penalties and gave the All Blacks the opportunity they needed to come from behind in the second."
