Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt admits the hard toil of a brutal 2025 schedule has left the squad desperate for a refresh heading into a crucial Spring Tour.
The Wallabies concluded their Rugby Championship with a disappointing 28-14 defeat to the All Blacks in a match marked by multiple yellow cards and uncharacteristic errors.
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It comes off the back of a three-Test British & Irish Lions tour that was immediately followed by a trip to South Africa.
The gruelling nature saw a host of Wallabies front-liners go down injured, with Will Skelton (concussion) and Fraser McReight (ankle) the latest after long-term injuries to Tate McDermott (hamstring) and Tom Wright (knee).
"It's all about regeneration now," Schmidt said. "They just need to get a bit of time and space. I can't imagine how it could be a lot tougher than having three massive Lions tests, then going straight up and playing at Ellis Park.
"Since that Ellis Park win, we've probably collected injuries at each point....Hopefully, if we can get that regeneration period right, we'll get a few players back.
"We've got to go after some results in the Northern Tour. The best way to get them is to win away from home and that starts with whatwill be a tough game against Japan.
"The players need to regenerate, keep ticking over and freshen up and spend time with family."
The Wallabies were left frustrated after failing to fire in James Slipper's final Test as a Wallaby.
They found themselves playing without luck as an Allan Alaalatoa try turned into a Tom Hooper yellow card for a dangerous clean out, followed by a freakish Jordie Barrett falcon for Quinn Tupaea's first try.
"We just didn't get a whole lot of luck, but at the same time, I've been doing this for a long time. You've got to earn and make your luck and we didn't quite make enough," Schmidt said.
"We lost a few balls in touch and made a few errors ourselves that you just can't afford to make on a wet, slippery night against the All Blacks."
It marks a record 11th straight defeat to their Kiwi rivals, with captain Harry Wilson dispondent as another close game fell the way of the men in black.
"We're not out there, obviously, being competitive. We're out there to win and the last two Test matches, we've had opportunities which we haven't taken," Wilson added.
"We've had two losses, which is just really disappointing. There definitely is light at the end of the tunnel for us and we've got to be betterwith those little margins, test footy, all those fine margins in the last couple of tests, we've definitely lost those."
