As Wallabies captain Stirling Mortlock left Marseilles with his devastated teammates on Sunday morning, he was still ruing the missed goal opportunities in Australia's 12-10 World Cup quarter-final loss to England.

"It is extremely disappointing for me personally to miss three kicks in the game and, in the end, that was probably the difference," he said.

"It is always extremely tough on a goalkicker when it is like that. But that doesn't erase how disappointed I am that I didn't hit a few [kicks] through. If I had, we wouldn't be here now going home tomorrow."

Mortlock was particularly pained by the failure of his last attempt at goal, with two minutes on the clock, which would have stolen the match for the Australians.

"I actually thought it was over. The wind was very skewy," he said.

"When I set it up, it was blowing to my right. When I went back to redress the ball, it was going from right to left.

"I hit it exactly where I wanted to. I thought it was on track. So I gave it a chance. I actually thought it was over … and it just hooked hard and that's how close we were."

Mortlock would not rule out a return for 201,1 when the tournament will be held in New Zealand.

"I haven't thought about post-World Cup. I want to sit down with my wife; discuss where we want to go. But I never say never," he said.

The Wallabies captain highlighted the one positive to emerge from the World Cup campaign - the experience gained by the younger members of the squad.

"I always feel and believe you have to take a positive from any situation," Mortlock said.

"Two-thirds of the crew are extremely young and the way the guys came through in this World Cup, I thought the future is extremely good."

He added that the Wallabies had failed to play to their own potential on the big occasion.

"That is something you have to learn from and hopefully we will grow from that," he said.

Wallabies coach John Connolly concurred, saying the World Cup rookies "will not forget" the loss as they approach the 2011 World Cup in New Zealand.

Mortlock said the Wallabies spent a downcast night together after their loss, adding that "a few beers" did little to ease their pain.

"It was a very solemn and quiet night with all the guys. For a lot of us, it hasn't really sunk in.

"To finish the World Cup [by] probably playing our worst performance in the World Cup is very disappointing."

It hurt too that the Wallabies were unable to toast the end of the Test careers of George Gregan and Stephen Larkham with a win.

"It was very emotional. They are two guys who have given Australian rugby so much," Mortlock said.

"It is extremely disappointing we didn't have an opportunity to send them off in a fitting style.

"We had a few quiet words over a couple of beers. [There was] nothing more we can do really.

"You would love nothing more than to send those guys off in a final or with a win."

Mortlock said the losses recorded by Australia and New Zealand showed that the World Cup was becoming a less predictable tournament.

"It re-emphasises how much tighter world rugby is now, and in particular [that] the top one or six nations on their day - if they play well - will win.

"I still feel disappointed with how we didn't play well and didn't show our true colours."

The Wallabies left Marseilles for Paris on Sunday, and they will fly home to Australia on Monday night.