What next for Wallabies?

In the high-stakes world of Australian sport, only winners are tolerated, no matter what the circumstances.

The Wallabies won plenty of admirers for their performance in what was an epic match but history will still show they lost a World Cup final to England.

"It's no consolation," Australia coach Eddie Jones told reporters on Sunday. "We had opportunities to push our case forward last night and we just weren't quite good enough."

The Wallabies did everything but win the game, clawing back from a halftime deficit of 14-5 to hold the English scoreless in the second half, and drew level at 14-14 in the 80th minute to force the match into extra time.

They fell behind again in extra time but fought back to tie the scores at 17-17 when Jonny Wilkinson finally broke their resistance with his 100th minute drop goal, giving England their 20-17 victory.

"England were the best side in the competition and deserved their victory," Jones said. "The only thing I'd say is just how well our guys acquitted themselves."

Australia's loss has already turned the focus on what they need to do to win the next World Cup in France with most of the senior players, including Wallabies captain George Gregan, not expected to be there.

"You have to start looking ahead and in a way we already are," Jones said.

"There are four or five guys in their last years of rugby, but the rest of the squad has a good four, five or six years ahead of them.

"The process has already started but we need to keep bringing young guys through and we need to keep building the depth and flexibility of the squad."

Australia's team was much younger than England with the backrow of George Smith, Phil Waugh and David Lyons all 24 or under.

Tryscorer Lote Tuqiri is also just 24 while utility back Matt Giteau is 21.

Props Al Baxter and Matt Dunning, locks Nathan Sharpe and Dan Vickerman, centres Elton Flatley and Stirling Mortlock, and fullback Mat Rogers are all in their mid-20s, and young enough to play in 2007.

Despite being the champions and tournament hosts, few people expected the Wallabies to do as well as they did after struggling through the pool phase.

They upset tournament favourites New Zealand in the semi-finals but could not quite reach the same heights the next week.

Jones said Australia's loss to the English had exposed weaknesses in the way the game is played in the southern hemisphere where the emphasis is on attack and that the fascination with running rugby has eroded the skill level in the set-pieces, the traditional strength of the European teams.

"We've got to make scrummaging an artform in Australia," Jones said. "There's just got to be that consistent practice in technique.

"The northern hemisphere definitely stole a march on us in set-piece contests, in lineouts and scrums."

Jones also said Australia needs to develop a kicker to match Wilkinson, the tournament's leading pointscorer.

"There's three basic skills in the game, running, passing and kicking and he's an absolute freak at kicking," Jones said.