Escaping Argentina with a lopsided victory is always a moment of relief. But it would be silly if the Wallabies rejoiced too much over their Mendoza triumph because it revealed as much about what is disconcerting about this team as it did its strengths.

For those blinkered Wallabyophiles who are bound to get carried away by this 34-9 triumph, which included two tries that emanated from forward passes, just go back and watch a replay of the Test match which preceded it. It will jolt you back to reality.

The South Africa- New Zealand international in Johannesburg was a champagne occasion, where both teams played with vim and venom at an extraordinary pace and with a minimal error rate. Each looked enormous Rugby World Cup title threats- and while the All Blacks continue on their merry winning way, never, never discount the Springboks, especially as they are developing a very impressive midfield.

The Argentina-Australia Test was in contrast a spumante moment- plenty of fizz, but with an unsatisfying flat after-taste. Compared to Ellis Park, what was going on at Estadio Mundialista Malvinas Argentinas appeared to be in slow motion, with either side well below the standard of the other two Southern Hemisphere powers. After observing superstars, it was now time to watch the scrubbers.

Sure, the enthusiasm was there among the Wallabies. The fitness levels were also there, with the visitors peaking near the end of the game. And the reserves bench again worked to get the Wallabies out of trouble. However the scrum remains a problem, and the midfield, minus Matt Toomua, does not look right. The team's goalkicking is another glaring concern.

For the second week running, the difference when Toomua was on and off the field was appreciable. Against the Springboks, Toomua, when he came onto the field in the second half was able to straighten the Wallabies attack after it crabbed badly for the first 40 minutes and he brought some rhythm to what was going on out wide. Also against Argentina, the Wallabies attack started with similar poise. Then Toomua suffered a head knock, was off the field after just eight minutes, Quade Cooper came on, and it all became scatty.

Luckily for Australia, there were far more personnel in the Argentina's overcrowded coaches box than in the Pumas outer defence, and they were able to take advantage of numerous indecisive moments from the home side, particularly in the second half.

While Cooper appeared to be doing everything he could to never be picked for the Wallabies again, the team's No 10 Bernard Foley tried to bring some decorum back to their attack. Unfortunately Foley also had to kick at goal, and that was where it all got decidedly wonky. Unless Foley drastically improves his kicking success rate in the next few weeks, it would be a serious danger relying on him to get the points during a World Cup.

He has got the yips, because his kicking style is flawed. Foley is now frantically jabbing away at the ball, and there is no rhythm. At times it even appeared as if his run-up was too close to the ball, cramping him either further, and seeing it swerve as crazily as Bob Massie was able to achieve during that famous 1972 Ashes cricket Test at Lord's. So easy points are being missed. That can lose you World Cup matches.

David Pocock had a fine game against the Pumas in Mendoza © Getty Images

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Further tinkering is required up front, as James Slipper again struggled to hold his own at loose-head, prompting the Pumas to regularly put the Wallabies pack under pressure. This was despite the Wallabies having a considerable 27kg weight advantage up front. Scott Sio may be the answer, but he needs more time in the front-row.

The other problem area is the team's lack of discipline. As with their last trip to Argentina, they gave away too many dumb penalties, typified by Cooper's stupid late high lunge that justifiably saw him end up in the sin-bin. This unnecessary act will surely have Wallabies coach Michael Cheika wondering if Cooper's head is right for what is coming up.

Thankfully David Pocock in a man-of-the-match performance was there to bring a bit of sanity back to the Australian play, and his back-row partnership with Michael Hooper in the second half again worked.

Cheika must now seriously think of starting both - pending the outcome of Hooper's judiciary hearing for an alleged punch - as they are easily the two best players in the Australian squad, and having one running off the bench is a gross waste of talent. Starting Pocock at No 8, and have Hooper and Scott Fardy as your flankers is not crazy, especially when so many headless chooks around them desperately need their direction.