Former skipper Stirling Mortlock believes the Wallabies are on track to pull off arguably the greatest feat in Australian rugby history at the World Cup.
With the draw unfolding as it is, the Wallabies may well have to complete a grand slam-like sweep of the four home nations and then conquer the mighty All Blacks in a first-time final between the trans-Tasman rivals to bring home the Webb Ellis Cup.
The Alan Jones-coached, Andrew Slack-captained and Mark Ella-inspired Australian touring team that beat England, Ireland, Wales and Scotland in successive Tests in 1984 ranks almost alongside the Wallabies’ triumphant World Cup sides of 1991 and 1999.
Thirty-one years on, Michael Cheika’s Wallabies may well need to emulate the fabled grand slammers just to make the World Cup final, where the top-ranked All Blacks are likely to confront them.
If Australia beat Wales and Ireland beat France this weekend, the Wallabies, having already seen off England, are expected to face Scotland in the quarter-finals and either the Irish or Argentina in the semis.
“To pull off a grand slam in three or four sudden-death (games) on the way to a final, if it turns out that way, that’d be phenomenal,” Mortlock told AAP.
“There’s a really good amount of confidence and a lot of signs that the guys are on the right path.”
Mortlock was at Twickenham last Saturday when Australia dumped hosts England from the tournament and found the Wallabies’ dominant scrummaging performance was especially heartening.
Australia is also the only team undefeated in World Cup matches in Britain and Ireland having won both previous tournaments staged in the UK.
But as captain of the much-fancied Australian side that suffered a shock quarter-final elimination at the hands of England in Marseilles in 2007, Mortlock suspects the Wallabies’ class of 2015 will be focusing solely on beating Wales to top Pool A.
“I just know from experience that you can’t get ahead of yourself,” he said.
“That’s a surefire way of getting blindsided.
“This World Cup has been phenomenal as far as there’s been some big upsets already and I’m sure there’ll be some more, so probably Australia will be making sure they’re not on the receiving end of one of those upsets.
“In particular, against a Welsh team that has been able to graft out some great victories and is undermanned due to significant injuries. They’ll be dangerous.
“I have tremendous respect for (Warren) Gatland as a coach and his ability to find unique insights to pinpoint weaknesses in a team.
“As punters and lovers of the game, we love to speculate on the ramifications and who may be our potential opponents but, from the Wallabies’ perspective, that is totally out of their control.”
RF
Guest
We've beaten England. That's it so far. Another huge game this w/e
El Gamba
Roar Guru
The problem with this forum is that most of the prolific contributors don't have any idea about rugby. I still read it and enjoy, please carry on!
Ken Catchpole's Other Leg
Guest
Agreed . Stirling, love ya work, especially your intercepts in world cups, but for chrissakes, can ya keep a lid on it?!!!!! I hope like hell that none of the players are reading this.
Chancho
Roar Rookie
Voice of reason. well done TWAS! Just one point I raised on another post, the pressure we got/get in the group games at Twickenham against England and Wales should be good for us if we go deep into the WC. Might be another blessing from the pool of death
El Gamba
Roar Guru
That's the test though isn't it TT, I liked how the players seemed to understand that it wasn't the final and that there's still a long way to go. I think that there's a few teams hoping that it was their final, I guess we'll see.
Handles
Roar Guru
Yes, agree. By Jaysper's logic, the odds of the Cowboys winning the NRL grand final would have been juicy. Not to mention Queensland winning the Shield in 1995, or Australia winning the Americas Cup in 1984!
Utah
Guest
I don't see how historical win rate bears much relevance. Completely different teams, completely different coaches, completely different opposition. The Irish team of the last couple of years, for example, is much improved on any Irish teams in recent history. Saying they can't win because Irish teams couldn't decades ago doesn't make much sense. Only recent form counts.
0riole
Guest
I think what's being eluded to is the path to the final could resemble a grand slam, if Scotland make it out of the pool stage and Ireland get over France. A lot of if and buts there, including getting over a Welsh team already smarting from having to play away from an emty Cardiff Arms Park which hosts France v Ireland the following day
Rugby Tragic
Guest
The Twins - well if they have played their final against England, I reckon it was a pretty good effort and worthy of the praise. It was a commanding performance.
mace 22
Guest
I'm talking about the attitude of this team. In years past a win against the AB's would've been followed by high fives and a week of comments like they better bring the A game, we can cut any backline to pieces, we are turning the corner etc Also out of the games played so far in this tournament the Wallabies have looked better than the AB's and against better opponents. But saying this if past Wallaby teams are to go by it wouldn't be surprise to see them lose against wales. But as I said their seems to be something different about this team. So good luck to them.
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
I love how people see exactly what they want to see. The Wallabies had a huge win against an opponent they struggled against. The next week they copped an absolute hiding from the same team. Despite staying resolute through 2 yellow cards in Sydney they capitulated and let in 2 when they were 1 man down for 10 minutes in Auckland. That sounds exactly like every other Wallaby team over the years.
Ewe N McKenzie
Guest
The All Blacks did the RWC Grand Slam in 95 - Wales and Ireland in pool play, Scotland in the QF and the Poms in the semi-finals. A nice little accomplishment if it can be done
Dave_S
Guest
Probably something about how all the posts on the Roar predicting we would win the RWC has given him the confidence to believe. They all read our comments, I'm certain of it.
pjm
Roar Rookie
Knickers in a twist in this thread. People are talking about what the draw could look like, not that we are guaranteed. Defeat the home nations then the kiwi's for the cherry on top, wouldn't be surpassing that for another 50 years.
mace 22
Guest
That's been their attitude all year. Even after the win in Sydney you could see that they thought, we've won the RC so what we've got another Bledisloe to play. Their just seems to be something different about this Wallaby team.
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
It's a lot harder for them not to when the press starting crowing too much.
eagleJack
Roar Guru
Not really a relevant point sorry Peter. Of course he planned ahead for the RWC. He didn't just wing it hoping the right players made it to the airport, through some form of ESP. But that doesn't mean he, or his team, are looking beyond the Welsh game right now.
Lostintokyo
Guest
Agree.
Lostintokyo
Guest
Yes indeed, "That'll do piggies".
PeterK
Roar Guru
cheika planned for the rwc, he specifically chose 2 teams for the first 2 games due to the draw. So he does look ahead.