You know times are tough when the Kiwi press is laughing at us.
Unfortunately, they've got every reason to at present.
It's scary to imagine but in seven days time, this incumbent Wallabies team could statistically be equal to the worst in history.
Well, the worst against the All Blacks, at least.
And aren't the 'fush and chups' hacks loving it.
Take this week for example.
A New Zealand newspaper took the mickey out of us by running an image of a road kill Kangaroo, dressed eloquently in the gold of a Wallabies jersey.
There were long tyre marks behind the roo, suggesting there was no end to the rot in sight.
But what can Australian rugby fans do about it? Sit back and suck it up.
Tonight's Bledisloe Cup opener between Australia and New Zealand at Melbourne's Etihad Stadium is of paramount importance to Australian rugby.
The Wallabies have lost their past seven Tests against the All Blacks, a record which is verging on disastrous.
The all-time losing record by an Australian team against the All Blacks is nine consecutive Tests, an unwanted feat that was recorded between 1936 and 1947.
Ironically, the Wallabies team that takes to the field tonight has won four of its five Tests this season.
The most recent was an impressive 30-13 thumping of the Springboks at Suncorp Stadium last weekend.
But against the All Blacks of late its been, well, all black our last win against them was in Sydney in 2008.
Forever we've taunted New Zealanders for their sporting failures, especially rugby and their unique ability to choke at all but one World Cup.
Who could forget George Gregan's ''four more years'' taunt after the All Blacks were pummeled out of the 2003 Rugby World Cup in Australia by the Wallabies?
But now, the best part of a decade on, the Wallabies are going through a tough and somewhat embarrassing period.
Remember the period of a decade ago when the Wallabies could do no wrong?
When Stephen Larkham and Gregan were dominating all before them?
When winning the tight Tests just seemed to happen for the Wallabies ... time and time again?
When names such as Eales, Horan, Kefu, Latham and co were household names but you weren't too sure how much, in a few years time, they would be revered?
It was a period of decadence for Australian rugby, where the trophy cabinet was overflowing and more importantly, the All Blacks couldn't get the better of the Wallabies.
That was then.
Things couldn't be much more different now.
The Wallabies have no fierce combinations.
Instead of winning those tight Tests, they generally find a way to lose them.
And alarmingly, they can't get on top of the All Blacks.
Not by a long stretch.
It begs the question why?
The All Blacks are in the midst of a golden era and not since 1995-1997 and 1967-1974 have they dominated the Wallabies with seven consecutive wins. The world's top-ranked team has also strung together 11 Test victories against all sides since its last loss to the Springboks in Hamilton last September.
Former Wallabies centre Tim Horan has fond memories of the Wallabies' golden era he was involved in during the 90s.
He recalled what made the Australians so dominant back then and believes it's exactly what the All Blacks have in spades now.
''Trust. It all comes down to trust and belief in each other and in your teammates,'' Horan said.
''The fact they've got talented players right across the 22 helps obviously but they've got an aura about them where they will back themselves at every opportunity and it's something the Wallabies are lacking.''
Former Wallabies coach Eddie Jones agrees with Horan's assertion that the Wallabies are lacking self-belief. Jones is the last Wallabies coach to have won the Bledisloe Cup, back in 2002.
''The Wallabies are building now to getting a very good side but they're still a year or two away from having that very good side,'' Jones said. ''When they get there, they'll play like the All Blacks are now and how the great Wallabies sides of yesterday played. They'll play with passion and flair and with a confidence and judgement that nobody can stop them. That comes with success.''
The Wallabies face an All Blacks side tonight which again has the Richie McCaw/Dan Carter factor.
Australia has won just one of 13 Tests against New Zealand when those two stalwarts have both been in the Kiwi side. Getting past statistics like that isn't easy. But it's bashing through them that is so important, to prevent a disastrous modern-day record against the All Blacks developing into an embarrassment.
It would also shut the Kiwi hacks up too, or at least for the time being.
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