Rugby: Raelene Castle's message to Wallabies coach Michael Cheika

Wallabies coach Michael Cheika. Photo / Getty

Embattled Wallabies head coach Michael Cheika has been told - in no uncertain terms - what is expected of his struggling team on their European tour.

As the Australians prepare to take on Wales next weekend in the first of their three end-of-year clashes, Rugby Australia CEO Raelene Castle told reporters in Sydney that anything but an unblemished record would be seen as a failure.

Cheika, who has survived increasing calls for his sacking over the last few months, will lead the Australians against the Welsh, Italy and England over the next month after a horror year - with only three victories from 10 tests resulting in a slump to seventh in the world rankings.

Cheika's men were beaten 37-20 by the All Blacks in last weekend's final Bledisloe test to lose the series 3-0.

Although Castle has so far publicly backed the under-fire coach, she said on Friday that only an undefeated tour of Europe would be a "pass mark" for the tourists.

"They are determined to go there and win all three games," Castle said.

"That's the start point, that's the pass mark from where they are, from their perspective, that's the expectation that certainly Michael's setting for them and there's no reason why they can't do that.

"They will be very confident that they can come home with three wins."

Castle insists the Wallabies were a much-improved outfit in Yokohama.

"I think the great thing about the third test was we saw some improvements and some things they identified they were concerned with," she said.

"I'm not justifying the result — we all wanted a win — but if you think about building into a World Cup, there was some very specific improvements, particularly around the defensive patterns and things I know they had targeted, that Michael had (targeted), as important for that game."

Cheika, who has coached the Wallabies since 2014, was forced to please explain the team's poor results to Rugby Australia's board last month - but was backed by Castle to coach through to next year's World Cup.

"No one's suggesting we're happy with the lack of wins," Castle said.

"We also play the All Blacks more than any other country in the world, so we have that pass mark and that's the benchmark that we set for ourselves.

"We played Ireland earlier on in the year, they're second in the world, beat them in the first Test, arguably should've won that series, gave ourselves enough opportunity.

"I think as we move into the UK tour, it's a slightly different style of rugby, different emphasis and I think the preparation the All Blacks will have given us is the best platform we could have."