The Wallabies have been savaged by a former England and Lions star who says they’re so bad that the Lions should cancel their tour next year and head back to South Africa instead.

And the Aussie bashing has gone further with New Zealand legend Mils Muliaina claiming the lack of competitiveness from Australian Super Rugby teams is a major factor behind the recent decline of the All Blacks.

Australia’s record breaking 67-27 loss to Argentina last weekend has sparked a wave of questions over the Australian program as the Wallabies slumped to a ranking of No.9.

Ben Youngs, who toured Australia with the Lions in 2013, has gone whack on the Wallabies, and says he feels for the Lions players who will give their Super Rugby opponents a “dicking” by 50 points and “then you get into the Test matches and you run riot and have got it wrapped up after two games with an aggregate of 110 points.”

Youngs and former England teammate Dan Cole savaged the Aussies on their podcast For the Love of Rugby.

“I’ve been really patient with Australia because I think in Joe Schmidt they have an obviously proven very, very good coach,” said Youngs.

“They beat Wales and you’re kind of watching them and they get beaten by South Africa. I’ve been very sort of like, well they’re kind of like building towards something and then wah boom, a loss like that happens and you’re a bit like you don’t get beaten like that in a Test match like that very often, if not never, but to that level, you’re thinking, ‘What on earth has happened there?’

“But Argentina just blew them away. By the end, Argentina caught a kick-off and ran the length of the field and scored again.

“I’m thinking like, blimey, that’s dark, like proper dark, and it’s just not good to see for Aussie rugby.”

Youngs suggested 2013 Lions cohort could beat the current Wallabies if they returned to play.

“I’m looking at and thinking the Lions are better off going to South Africa and touring there. Given that the last time they went there was no fans allowed,” said Youngs.

”I don’t know, maybe we’ll just do a reunion of 2013 and we’ll just go f–ing do the business on them – get all the lads out of retirement.

“Just bits to their game which are just so naive. There was a time when Argentina come around the corner – the game was proper tight at this point, I think was 24-20 – Argentina come around the corner, the replacement hooker comes on and gets a great steal for Australia.

“He’s [the fly-half] then presented the ball, they’re like three metres from their line, so you’re thinking right? Just clear it. The 10 has come in and instead of just, like getting it off himself and clearing the lines, boom he hits Rob Valetini up who’s behind his own line. I don’t know what he’s expecting so he gets banged, bless him. Argentina tackle him – like what are you doing, this is Test match rugby.

“I’m just looking at some of these basic parts of the game and I’m thinking ‘What are you doing? It’s Test match rugby.’ Test match rugby at its basic level is just got out of your bloody half and they can’t even do that efficiently.”

Youngs said the Lions would find next year’s tour easy going at this rate.

“I watched that and I just thought, I’m not sure where they’re heading and they’ve got a few more games left, then they’re going to come over the Autumn – they could leave that looking pretty bleak and then obviously got a Lions Tour to host,” he said.

“At the moment, if you’re a Lions fan going out there, you going to have a hell of a tour, like you are going to watch the Lions run riot. If I’m going on the performances at the moment and the power and the absolute strength and depth that’s available to the Lions selectors, I think they can have a field day out there.”

Youngs said he felt for Lions players who might be heading Down Under having played in the Covid affected 2021 tour of South Africa.

“Imagine your first Lions tour is that one in South Africa behind closed doors and all that comes with it, right but that’s your first experience for a Lions tour which should be the pinnacle,” he said.

“Then your next tour is Australia – great country and all that – but you dicking every provincial side by 50-60 points. Then you get into the Test matches and you run riot and have got it wrapped up after two games with an aggregate of 110 points.

“I’m just looking at it and with less than a year out and after the game at the weekend – I think Australia look worse than they did in the summer.”

Meanwhile, Muliaina has claimed that playing Super Rugby against Australian teams is a key factor in the All Blacks’ struggles this year. They split their two games with Argentina, conceding a record 38 points in game one, then lost both matches in South Africa.

“I don’t think our competitions are healthy. Our competitions aren’t turning our up-and-comers into quality, world class All Blacks,” he said on Sky Sports’ Breakdown.

“They’re going out there in pressure situations and that’s where they’re folding. You can’t teach that at the lower grades because we’re playing against the Aussies.

“The South Africans have found their groove because they’ve gone overseas and played hardened rugby, but they’ve also got a style of rugby which also suits them.

“We’ve got to find that in our competitions. I don’t agree that our competitions are as competitive as what they should be.”