The Wallabies will be hoping to avoid rising England and faltering Six Nations champions Wales when the 2015 Rugby World Cup draw is held early Tuesday morning (AEDT).
Australia pulled off grinding and somewhat fortunate wins over the English and Welsh in the past three weeks – to guarantee a top pool seeding – but want neither nation drawn alongside them in three years time.
All will be revealed when the International Rugby Board holds its pool allocation draw at 2am in London, the scene of the next RWC final.
Ranked No.3 in the world, the Wallabies are in band one on the IRB rankings with defending champions New Zealand, South Africa and France also to be top seeds.
Despite England’s dominant 38-21 victory over the All Blacks on the weekend, the hosts remain the game’s fifth-ranked nation and stand out as the strongest second-band team, ahead of Ireland, Samoa and Argentina.
With home support and a young, attacking team, Stuart Lancaster’s men are tipped to be a major contender and 2003 World Cup-winning coach Clive Woodward rightly says none of the top sides want to meet them in pool play.
“It makes the draw fascinating, given England have just demolished New Zealand,” Woodward told the BBC.
“That one result will make the southern hemisphere teams sit up and say for once ‘we want to keep away from England’.”
Sidelined Wallabies captain James Horwill stressed home ground advantage would make England a more dangerous prospect.
“When any team plays at home in a World Cup that’s an advantage for them … you saw that last time with New Zealand,” he told AAP.
While the Wallabies won’t fear Wales, whoever draws them will automatically find themselves in the “pool of death” as three leading nations will be fighting for two quarter-final spots.
The Red Dragons went unbeaten through the Six Nations just eight months ago but have slipped to ninth in the world on the back of seven straight losses.
Four of those have come in tight matches against Australia, including two heart-breaking last-gasp defeats with Mike Harris kicking truly in Melbourne and Kurtley Beale scoring with 23 seconds left in Cardiff.
“It shows there isn’t much difference between the top nations – they were very close to making the World Cup final last year,” Horwill said.
“Things haven’t fallen their way this year and it also shows you can’t read too much into (World Cup) form this far out.”
Italy, Tonga and Scotland round out band three with Wales, while minnow qualifiers will complete the 20-strong field which is divided into four pools of five.
kingplaymaker
Roar Guru
Don't worry Brett the Wallabies will have had three years of Israel Folau by then.
kingplaymaker
Roar Guru
Silly comment: if Australia had lost to Wales they wouldn't have them in their pool, so had Deans done worse the Wallabies would have had a better draw.
Ben.S
Roar Guru
I've critiqued England on endless threads over the past few weeks, nor am I suggesting one game makes a season hence absolutely everything I've said below your comment, but Australia got smashed in SA and France and England drew in SA, lost by a small amount, and beat France away. They lost to Wales at Twickenham due to a freak try from Scott Williams and every other loss has been basically very close. This has been IMO a underperforming England side, and the youngest and least experienced in Test rugby and yet it's had a comparatively good season with performances that Australia and SA haven't got close to. I imagine that's why the naysayers are not Kiwi Roarers.
Rob9
Guest
I like the look of you crystal ball there Colvin. Thing is i don't see 'perfect expansive rugby' happening under a Deans gamplan and his selections. I'm scared about next year but gee I hope we grind out a series win. Deans will obviously be there for the Lions but I also hope the ARU don't renew his contract so Link (or whoever but probably Link) can get in there and start worrying about getting us out of pool a in 2015.
Colin N
Guest
The winner of Pool A plays the runner-up of Pool B, so logically that's either Samoa or Scotland. Then in the semis just a quick calculations suggests you either play Ireland, France or Argentina in the semis. So whoever wins the toughest pool probably has an easier run through. But that's if everything goes as it should, which didn't happen in 2011.
Ben, you are absolutely right, but there are positives and negatives to be considered. Firstly don't only look at the positives, if you do that you are only fooling yourself. along with those achievements were also 3 losses to SA, a loss to Wales and a loss to australia. What england got right this weekend was having the collective defence working, on attack they managed to dominate the breakdown with sheer physicality and numbers. they also at last managed to have enough patience and recognised when to go wide. But alas, one top class perfmormance doesn't a season make.
Neuen
Roar Rookie
Choke or panic?
Ben.S
Roar Guru
I wouldn't put NZ there on one performance. Everybody has an off-day.The one thing I will say is (and I'm not looking for a medal here), but I did voice concerns a while back that the NZ tight five would start to become vulnerable as key players age, and that Messam wouldn't always have it his own way due to his size. That's why I thought it was ridiculous bringing Thomson on tour. I thought he needs to find a bigger alternative to Messam (as well as he has played this year) like Shields, for example. That aside, NZ are still clearly the side to beat, and IMO by some stretch. I don't think there is enough creativity in the midfield. Barritt is probably what I'd describe as the ultimate team man, but I still think he's a club player elevated above his station. Lancaster has referred to a second playmaker on numerous occasions, but has never really touched on the idea. There's a lad called Billy Twelvetrees I'd like to see play 12, either that or shift Tuilagi to 12 and play Jon Joseph at 13. Bit more pace then. Brown had an excellent game, and he is incredibly competitive, but against SA we had no width as he kept coming in from his wing. I don't think I've ever seen him play wing for his club, and long-term I'd like to see a genuine 11 (bit like Mark Cueto) on the wing, or failing that a player like Christian Wade or even league convert Kyle Eastmond. Two players with footwork - just a different sort of challenge to defenders.
Colvin
Guest
You see, Rob, this is what's going to happen. The Lions are going to come out with a hiss and a roar. And they'll go back with their collective tails between their legs, beaten 2 to 1 by Robbie Dean's WBs playing perfect expansive rugby. Robbie will be rewarded with a further two year contract to see out the WC 2015. The WBs and Wales see off the challenge of England in Pool A and the WBs play their way into the final. The defending Cup holders NZ win through to the final from the other side of the draw. At this stage I won't tell you who wins. You will have to wait till the match is played.
Jiggles
Roar Guru
meh if they want to win the RWC they have to expect some tough games. If Beating England at Twickers at a home RWC isn't a motivation then I don't know what is.
Rob9
Guest
'What more could we want?' Ewen v Steve...
Brett McKay
Expert
"The Wallabies will be hoping to avoid rising England and faltering Six Nations champions Wales when the 2015 Rugby World Cup draw is held early Tuesday morning (AEDT)." Wow, prophetic Jim! Just wondering if you've got some thoughts on which Lotto numbers I should avoid, too?!?
Colvin
Guest
Mighty, I agree. England out in the pool stages at home. And I'll go further and say it's in the WBs interests to go through a tough pool. They'll be up and ready for the big matches to follow. The final will be between the WBs and the ABs. Robbie v Steve. What more could we want?
Tui
Guest
God what a tough group for the Wallabies.
Mick
Guest
lets pray England CHOKE. There will be pressure on them to win and since they beat the ABs that expectation in only going to get bigger. Im hoping the wallabies and ABs fly under the radar by 2015. NZ with an aging squad and Wallabies with a terrible coach
Dick Dastardly
Guest
That maybe but it's no guarantee that the Wallabies'll continue that winning streak. Not convinced by your presumption that Wales'll go through and England won't make it past the pool stages. What do you base that on?
Riccardo
Guest
"I think we’d all agree that there isn’t much between any of the sides from 2-10 ATM". Should read "...1-10..." I think the All Blacks have come back to the pack based on the performances on this tour, Ben. My comments regarding consistency simply refer to this developing English side mate; they need to and will notch up more wins. They have seen what they are capable of and as a pretty young group will want more. You're right that the RWC is a long way away but it is in your back yard or at least at home for most of this playing group but to make too much of recent results in this regard would be premature. What are your concerns about the midfield? I thought Tuilagi and Barritt (whose brave words were borne out by the way) were outstanding. Swapping them around? Brown made more metres, beat more All Blacks, made more off-loads, and missed less tackles than Ashton, although Ashton dotted down (his theatrics annoy me more than even Thomson's Sena impression).
mighty deceaser
Guest
Australia have won every world cup held in the UK. The Wallabies will top their group with Wales and England fighting it out for 2nd place. Wales to go through. England will not make it past the pool stages
Neuen
Roar Rookie
Agree. There are no easy matches in the WC. 1991 Australia vs Ireland is a good example
Tissot Time
Roar Rookie
They were the best because they won the tournament