Wallabies must cut out simple errors or risk losing touch with rugby's top teams, Greg Clark writes IF Wallabies coach Ewen McKenzie didn't realise how tough his job was going to be when he accepted the contract, he certainly knows now. Thanks to the All Blacks, McKenzie has a very good idea of just how much work has to be done before the Rugby World Cup in England in 2015. Not only does he have to bridge the gap between New Zealand and Australia, but he also has to make sure the Wallabies don't drop any further down the rankings. Australia currently sit fourth after back-to-back losses to the top-ranked All Blacks, with South Africa second and England third, despite not having played a recent game. With two home games coming up against the Springboks and Pumas, it's important for the Wallabies to bounce back and give the fans something to cheer about. History will show that this has been a poor start to the Test season for Australia. You have to go back to 1972 to find the last Wallaby side that lost four of its first five Tests. But that's not comparing "apples with apples." This year's side, and remember McKenzie has only been in charge for two of the five Tests, has played the two best teams in the world - the All Blacks and Lions. Next up they'll play the third-best team, the Springboks, so it's been a tough schedule. The frustrating thing is that Australia were in a position to win all five Tests at some stage during the matches, but they were only able to win the second Test against the Lions in Melbourne. Missing four penalties and a conversion cost them the first Test in Brisbane, and an all too familiar collapse cost them the deciding Test in Sydney. That trend has continued into the McKenzie era. Despite being down by just three points early in the second half against New Zealand in Bledisloe I, the Wallabies then conceded 22 points in 22 minutes and it was game over. In Wellington, the Wallabies kept the All Blacks scoreless in the opening 26 minutes and led 6-0 but they trailed at 15-6 at half-time. Another period of poor defence cost them dearly. The All Blacks were try-less in the second spell but kicked four penalty goals to win 27-16 and the Bledisloe Cup stays on the other side of the Tasman for an 11th straight year. James O'Connor has struggled in defence in The Rugby Championship. To beat the All Blacks you have to bring your "A" game and then still hope for some luck and the rub of the green from the referee. It's been well documented that they didn't get any love from the officials and the more the All Blacks infringed, the further the yellow card went into the ref's pocket. But at the end of the day, you can't commit 25 turnovers, concede 16 penalties, miss 11 tackles, lose five lineouts on your throw and mess up your scrum when playing the best team on the planet. Ewen McKenzie and his assistants might be prepared to take some of the blame, but it's the players who must take the ultimate responsibility. I can't see the selectors making wholesale changes for the clash with the Boks at Suncorp Stadium on Election Day September 7th, but they might tinker a bit. Quade Cooper could get to start at fly half on his home track. Israel Folau might be considered for fullback so he get's more involved. Whatever the make up of the team, McKenzie won't be getting a lot of sleep. He's always been a great competitor and will be doing everything to get his team back on track. He knows the Wallabies must rediscover the art of winning, or face the prospect of losing even more disgruntled fans. The Springboks won't be easy. They're two from two against Argentina, and despite the struggle against the Pumas in Mendoza they'll be up for the clash in Brisbane. The Wallabies are hurting so the Boks know it'll be a tough challenge. The All Blacks have rightly wrapped up the Bledisloe for another year but fans were left scratching their heads at some puzzling officiating in the second Test. Catch RugbyHQ this Thursday, live from 8.30pm on Fox Sports1HD.