Key questions facing Wallabies

Big questions ... The Wallabies' spring European tour is a big moment in Kurtley Beale's future Source: AAP

From David Pocock to Kurtley Beale, it is a defining month for Australian rugby. Iain Payten looks at the key issues on the spring tour.

1. Is Kurtley Beale the long-term answer at five-eighth?

November shapes as a defining tour for Beale. After a poor start to the Rugby Championship at fullback, Beale turned in three assured performances at No. 10.

Beale is a superb ball-player, capable of creating numbers with his step and speed, but on the softer grounds of Europe, the Rebels star must also demonstrate a clever kicking game; carving out field position for his forwards.

Berrick Barnes's goalkicking is an asset, so don't discount his possible return to fullback.

2 Can the Wallabies get the best out of David Pocock and Michael Hooper?

Don't hold your breath to see them start together. These two outstanding openside flankers both deserve the No. 7 jersey, but only one can wear it. To have both short blokes in the side not only takes out a lineout option but leaves the Wallabies under-gunned for the physical clashes.

Robbie Deans has shown a willingness to use two opensides in the last half-hour, when most Test matches are won and lost.

The big question is who starts? Pocock won't be ready to play France and will return via the bench against England, with Hooper starting.

Pocock will likely get his chance with starts against Italy and Wales.

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3. Can the Wallabies' re-discover their running game?

They showed great character to finish second in the Rugby Championship, but even a cursory glance at the stats leaves you asking how.

The Wallabies scored the fewest  tries, averaging just one a game, and managed to conjure less than one linebreak per game. Only Argentina scored fewer points.

Injuries robbed the side of several key attackers like Will Genia and James O'Connor.

Only solid defence and the goalkicking of Barnes and Mike Harris turned what could have been a disastrous tournament into a second-place finish.

The Wallabies' backs have to turn to Beale and winger Digby Ioane for half-breaks, and keep bold young centre Ben Tapuaii in the team.

4. Will this tour matter ahead for the British and Irish Lions showdown next year?

You bet - for both the Wallabies and their UK opponents, England and Wales. Deans and Lions coach Warren Gatland will be looking to see which of their prospective troops for next year's series display the willingness to stand up and fight for their jersey.

Lions tours are brutal affairs. Hard men are required, and this month's tour is a perfect audition for the Wallabies.

5. What chance a Wallabies slip-up, and where will it come from?

The Wallabies have an annoying tendency to play like superstars when backed into a corner, only to clock off when the pressure has eased.

So pencil in the clash with Italy as Australia's potential banana skin.

The Azzurri travel overseas as well as a banana at the bottom of a backpack, but at home, with the crowd at their back and a friendly ref swayed by the atmosphere, the Italians can be tricky. They almost beat Australia in Florence in 2010 - only Barnes' goalkicking saved the day - and with improved discipline, they could be dangerous.

Need we mention the precedents - Scotland 2009 and 2012, Samoa 2011?

6. Could a bad tour see Robbie Deans sacked?

Nope. The pressure that existed on Deans' job in TRC was not as cut-throat as commonly believed, with many of the ARU board remaining strong supporters.

A second-placed finish and the draw with New Zealand in Brisbane gave the ARU board all the evidence it needed to stick with Deans for the last year of his contract in 2013.

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