Quade Cooper believes Australia did not employ the correct tactics during their run to the semi-final of the Rugby World Cup last October.
The Wallabies went into the tournament as many people's tips to lift the Webb Ellis Trophy, but defeat to Ireland in the pool game meant they had to go down the harder route to the final.
Having overcome South Africa in the quarter-finals the Wallabies then faced the task of having to beat New Zealand on their home turf and it proved a step too far for Robbie Deans' squad.
Cooper had been expected to be one of the players of the tournament but he struggled to impose himself, particularly during the defeat to Ireland, and while he admits he could have played better, he believes the Wallabies' tactics were wrong.
"I went out there and played the football I was allowed to play inside a game plan. It might not have necessarily been the best game plan," Cooper told the Australian Associated Press.
"There was half the games that we didn't play very smart. Whether that was on the back of my shoulders, who knows?
"I think there was a time where we may have been over-thinking. Because when we came out in that game against Wales we basically said let's just go out there (and enjoy it).
"You can have all the words and all the motivational quotes and moves in the world but if you're not going out there and putting your heart and your mind into it with your team mates you're not going to play well. We just went out there and played some good football."