THE Wales team’s losing tour of Australia again cast them as the nearly men of international rugby.

They nearly beat the Wallabies in each of the three Tests they played Down Under with a total points difference of just 11 in favour of the home side.

The results were achingly similar to last year’s World Cup where Wales nearly beat South Africa, France and Australia – losing by a combined total of just five points.

Wales have shown repeatedly over the last year that they are now one of the best teams in the sport.

But there seems to be a mental block when it comes to closing out games against the best sides.

Much has been said and written about Wales being unlucky.

But it is not about luck. The pattern that developed during the World Cup continued on the Australian tour.

It is a pattern that sees Wales performing brilliantly on the field, matching the very best their opponents come up with and dealing with whatever is thrown at them. But still losing.

The Grand Slam earlier this year showed they can win big games. If coach Warren Gatland can find a way to repeat that against the southern hemisphere countries then, given the relatively young average age of the Wales squad, there is every chance that he will have a team of world-beaters on his hands.