 Deans suffered his first autumn Test defeat against Wales
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Australia coach Robbie Deans says Wales are good enough to reclaim the Six Nations crown next year after seeing his side beaten 21-18 in Cardiff.
Wales have not won back-to-back titles since 1979 or successive Grand Slams since 1909.
The Wallabies failed in their attempt to win all four Tests in Europe, having beaten Italy, England and France.
"We feel Wales are better equipped going into the Six Nations than the other sides we've played," said Deans.
"You look at the number of line-breaks they created. You look at their resilience; they dug deep when they had to.
"They are all attributes that serve you well in a competition like that."
Deans says Wales will also be boosted in Europe's showpiece Test competition by the confidence gained from being the only northern hemisphere team to beat a Tri-Nations side in November.
"They will obviously take a lot of belief out of being the only side to have tipped over a southern hemisphere side," he added.
"It all adds to what they've got."
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"It was a very good (Wales) performance and pretty much what we expected," said Deans.
"They are playing good rugby, playing with ambition.
"They are looking to play on the tackle line and to use their width and they're being pretty heady around the park.
"Defensively they really push the boundaries and make your life difficult and that's been evident throughout the year.
"You don't pick up a Six Nations title easily. Since the Six Nations their conditioning has improved, their collective understanding has improved.
"They have good running lines and work hard at playing a better game of rugby.
"Evidently in the last three weeks they have challenged the southern hemisphere nations and I'm sure Warren Gatland wants them to continue to do that up to the 2011 World Cup.
"Our response at the death was good. It was evidently an arm-wrestle and the whole experience of the UK has been fantastic for us."
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