The Springboks remain undefeated in this year’s Rugby Championship, after they finished over the top of the All Blacks for a second straight week.

Meanwhile, what on earth did we just witness in Santa Fe? The Wallabies led 20-3 after 30 minutes, and by fulltime the Pumas had smacked them 67-27. That was an ugly second half for Australia and Joe Schmidt has plenty to ponder before the All Blacks’ visit to Sydney in two weeks’ time.

For now, though, let’s unpack some of the weekend’s key takeaways.

SCHMIDT MUST FACE UP TO AN INCONVENIENT TRUTH

Australia have suffered some embarrassing defeats in recent times, but this current group is now the owner of the record for the most points ever conceded by a Wallabies team.

The 67 they shipped on Saturday afternoon eclipsed the 61 that the Springboks piled on back in 1997 and while some positive Wallabies fans have been quick to point out that Australia recovered from that defeat to win the World Cup two years later, that squad also featured alltime greats George Gregan, Stephen Larkham and Joe Roff, while David Wilson, Matt Cockbain and Owen Finegan were pretty handy, too.

Still, it would be wrong to throw the baby out with the bathwater following Saturday’s defeat; that would overlook some of the sparkling rugby Australia played inside 30 minutes and the cold hard fact that the Pumas were superb. Remember, this is the same team that ran up a record score in defeating New Zealand in Wellington just last month. When they are on, they are on.

Schmidt’s biggest concerns are two-fold but directly related, too. The trouble is that by actioning the first issue, the second is only then amplified.

There is no hiding from how much the Wallabies lose when Angus Bell and Taniela Tupou leave the field; at the weekend that was after 40 and 35 minutes respectively. After the introduction of James Slipper and Allan Alaalatoa, Australia lost significant attacking punch through the middle of the field. Their scrum, which had been solid in the first half, dominant even, was immediately put under pressure by a Pumas pack that was on top at the set-piece throughout the second half.

Alaalatoa hasn’t been the same player since his Achilles rupture last year, while not only was Slipper penalised at scrum time, he also gave away a penalty for a no-arms tackle early in the second half.

Slipper has been a great servant of Australian rugby and on the weekend equalled George Gregan’s record for the most Test caps ever. But the writing was on the wall for this pair as a scrummaging duo during this year’s Super Rugby season when they were shunted all over the paddock by the Fijian Drua. The Pacific Islanders did not even boast one of the better scrums in the tournament, yet they dominated Alaalatoa and Slipper throughout.

Either Schmidt must get more minutes out of Bell and Tupou in the run to the British & Irish Lions series next year or look elsewhere across his squad for front-row replacements. Isaac Kailea should be available for the Bledisloe in Sydney, while Zane Nonggorr may also be worth consideration among the reserves.

Unfortunately, making such moves would leave the Wallabies with an experience vacuum on the bench as Nonggorr and Kailea are both very much in the infancy of their Test careers.

The Wallabies’ second-half capitulation, and a dire need for an experienced voice to steady what was a rapidly-sinking ship, was summed up in the moments that followed the soft penalty they gave away 12 minutes into the second half.

When Jake Gordon didn’t retreat following a kick from Ben Donaldson, the Pumas were gifted a scrum five metres out from the Wallabies’ line. Another scrum penalty and a Pablo Matera try later, and the Pumas had scored four straight tries to take complete control of the match.

Gordon was hooked at the same time, but it was at that moment that the Wallabies needed their leaders, including Slipper and Alaalatoa, to take charge. Unfortunately for Australia, the game only deteriorated further.

Schmidt has some big decisions to make before the end of the year.