A key determinant of Wales 2 will be the degree to which Wales improves, and in what areas.
I recall how we rejoiced in the convincing defeat of England, Perth 2010. Their attack was rusty to say the least, and they looked like a team that would have difficulty improving quickly and in the right areas. Our rugby media lapped it up and future conquests of the old enemy were predicted as a given, Deans was praised as turning around the team not long after the just prior Scotland debacle.
Come Sydney, England had significantly improved its attack and played far more dynamically and cleverly. Australia was unsettled by this new pattern and arguably played less well than in Perth. And, particularly, England exposed deficiencies in Australia's lazy defense. Giteau's kicking was astray yet again, we lost.
It's highly unlikely that Gatland and Wales will stay at the Brisbane level of delivery. They're proud enough and good enough to improve upon the many problems in handling, forwards play and communication revealed last Saturday.
If they do, what Wallaby selections will be exposed? Answer that and it's a good guide as to how the team should be upgraded, if we have players for doing so. We missed no less than 29 tackles on Saturday, against the ABs or SA, that level would likely be a loss creator as those sides would not typically replicate Wales' many errors.
So of the how and where must we improve, defense is obviously a leading candidate. How tactically resilient and creative will we be if Wales lift their standards and consistent skill? Will we sustain composure against a better Wales? And if Genia is less a rugby genius, who will replace that exceptional skill with a matching contribution of their own?
It's been consistent, improving performance with deep and sustained roots that has eluded the Deans' Wallabies over and over again. And routinely underestimating the calibre of their opposition after isolated moments of glory.
With this history, we can predict little. But hope lives on, as another moment of truth for Australian rugby awaits.