Little wonder Wallaby coach Michael Cheika sported a broad smile sitting next to his former Randwick teammate Eddie Jones, now coach of England, at Kyoto during the 2019 Rugby World Cup draw this week.
The men in gold had just been handed two golden wands.
Not only did the Wallabies end up with a dream draw, but if the sudden-death format is the same as 2015, the Wallabies will be in the bottom half with Ireland, leaving the All Blacks and England to battle out the top half.
An All Black-Wallaby final, a repeat of 2015?
It makes no sense having the draw two years, four months, and ten days out from the Rugby World Cup kick-off, but it’s sensible now from the Wallabies’ point of view.
Here’s how the draw unfolded, with current world rankings in brackets.
Ireland (4) in Pool A.
All Blacks (1) – Pool B.
England (2) – Pool C.
And the Wallabies (3) – Pool D
Then the next four rankings.
Scotland (5) – Pool A.
Boks (7) – Pool B
France (6) – Pool C,
And Wales (8) – Pool D.
The next four:
Japan (11) host, pre-qualified from 2015 – Pool A.
Italy (15) – pre-qualified from 2015 – Pool B.
Pumas (9) – Pool C
And Georgia (12) – pre-qualified from 2015 – Pool D.
If the knock-out format is the same as 2015:
Quarterfinals
All Blacks – winner of Pool B
Scotland or Japan – second in Pool A.
England – winner of Pool C
Wales – second in Pool D.
Walabies – winner of Pool D
Pumas – second in Pool C.
Ireland – winner of Pool A
Boks – second in Pool B.
Semi-finals
All Blacks
England
Wallabies
Ireland
The Wallaby prediction is based on Cheika whipping his Wallaby squad into international standard, far removed from their pitiful performances during this year’s Super Rugby.
(AP Photo/Christophe Ena)
It’s been embarrassing watching all five Australia franchises stumble and bumble through the tournament with precious few moments of quality.
To prove the point, not one of the five are in the black on points for and against.
The Brumbies are all square with 194 for, and 194 against.
The Waratahs are 80 behind with 249 for, and 329 against.
The Force is 82 adrift with 168 for, and 250 against.
The Reds are 122 in debit with 204 for, and 326 against.
And the Rebels are way behind by 238 with just 116 for, and 354 against.
It’s been widely reported the Australians haven’t won a game in 17 against their Kiwi counterparts this season, but it’s never been mentioned by how much.
Brumbies – 0/4 – 59 for – 109 against.
Rebels – 0/4 – 50 – 205.
Force – 0/3 – 39 – 85.
Reds – 0/3 – 52 – 102.
And Waratahs – 0/3 – 83 – 119.
Those totals – 0/17 – 283 – 620, meaning the Kiwis have crushed the Australians by a massive 337 points.
If the Australians don’t feel humiliated, they damn well should.
The stats aren’t that much better against the South African Conference:
Reds – 2/2 – 97 – 126.
Force – 1/2 – 73 – 102.
Rebels – 0/2/1 – 22 – 100.
Brumbies – 0/1 – 22 – 27.
And the Waratahs – 0/3 – 74 – 118.
In 14 games the stats read 3/10/1 – 308 – 473 – the difference 165.
So it won’t come as any surprise the biggest success has been within the Australian Conference, where it is of course dead square across the board.
Waratahs – 3/1 – 92 – 92.
Brumbies – 3/1 – 113 – 58.
Rebels – 1/1 – 44 – 49.
Force – 1/2 – 56 – 63.
And the Reds – 0/3 – 55 – 98.
Of the 16 games played within the Australian Conference it’s 8/8 and 360 – 360.
Realistically, not one Australian side deserves to be in the play-offs, but the Conference winner automatically gets a start.
But whoever it is won’t last long.
Roll on 2019.
P2R2
Roar Rookie
an extremely high probability that your synopsis will come to pass....right now AUS rugby is without doubt a shambles...BUT...all credit to the FORCE for beating the Jaguares - BUT...to coin a phrase from Larkham...the Jaguares lost the game....the Force didnt win it....AUS wont get to the finals at RWC 2019...contrary to what David Lord espouses..
Out of position!!!
Guest
What is with it with Aussie fans and our national coaching staff consistently picking players out of positions??! Hunt has thrived at Fullback so why select him at centre?! Do you see Steve Hanson throwing Ben Smith at centre? No! He has guys that have been playing and thriving in that position the entire rugby season! Agh. We need to select the best Australian player who has been thriving in their respected position. The only exception is Reece Hodge who could play anywhere in the backline
Hoy
Roar Guru
What we are also all forgetting here is that the Wallabies should be the finished product, and Cheika, as coach of the Wallabies, should only be there for motivation and game plan. He shouldn't have to COACH any player to be better at the breakdown, or the lineout or whatever... The problem is the coaching below, all the way down... Changing Cheika won't help anything... But his selection can do with a bit of improvement, no doubt.
Old Bugger
Guest
Well, all I can say is that after the last RWC and being part of the "Pool of Death" scene, this is well and truly, a blessing in disguise. To that end, I sincerely wish, the WBs, will reach the 2019 GF. But be aware, I also wish the same for my team......so, good luck to my opposing supporters......whoever, they may be.
soapit
Guest
yeah after posting i thought perhaps i'd misread your meaning
Fionn
Guest
He can choose not to pick a 10 who can't kick, a 9 who can't pass and who makes horrendous decisions, a 15 who can't kick or pass and who makes terrible decisions, a 6 who is a grub, not physical and offers nothing in the way of skills or rugby smarts by international standards, and a second rower who is overweight and a thug. He may have been constrained in some positions in 2016, but most of those constraints don't apply in 2017. There are decent options in every position but 10.
Jock Cornet
Guest
Wait till we get flogged by the Boks and abs by 50, the easy draw conversation will end
timber
Guest
There's no such thing as being handed victory. The Wallabies were put under intense pressure by England and made mistakes due to their poor technique and decision making. Don't underestimate how important basic skills and clear decision making are in the test arena, flashes of attacking brilliance rarely win you games, consistent application over 80 min does. The ABs have always had x-factor players, it's only when they went back to doing the simple things well that they started to dominate.
Rhys Bosley
Guest
He only writes for Roar readers, not anyone that matters.
Rhys Bosley
Guest
If Cheika is still in the job by then they might be.
YeahRight
Guest
Akari, Andrew Walker was playing first grade for Randwick before he switched to League. He was coming back to Union so hardly a convert.
mzilikazi
Guest
"Which so called quality leaguies have the wallies had in the last 10 years ?? I`ll tell you ..None. .And we are poorer for it,.." Marto, are you seriously saying that Folau is not a quality player ? I would suggest you cast your mind back to 2013........he was, IMO, and immediate success, and went on to become, going into the last World Cup, a world class player. Sure, now he has seriously lost form, but he still remains a good player.
Muzzo
Roar Rookie
Yep English twizz, but Jason was not a patch, on Jonah's sponsorship logo, in regards to wingers. Ask Mike Catt, I think he would verify that..
Muzzo
Roar Rookie
A DUD League player FARMER?????? Yeh right, so much a DUD that he continually represented, Queensland in Origin, & was a virtually guaranteed a permanent Kangaroo spot, during his time, at rep level. Akari, mate, I don't think Thorn really sacked himself, as at the time, he was playing good rugby, but declined the offer of a Black jersey, due to himself wanting to try another season or so, back in league. As it is, Brad, is a fanatic fitness freak, who although being a Otago born & bred man, ended up playing for Canterbury, & the Crusaders. where as it is known that particular Union had far more to offer, than what the Otago union had to offer, at that time. Not so much now, as Otago, & the Highlanders, have finally got their act together. It must also be remembered, that Richie, was born, bred & educated, in Otago, Justin Marshall, born in Mataura, Chris Laidlaw, etc atc, all played for Canterbury. Yep I kinda wish we could claim Jonah, & Piney, but South Auckland & Te Kuiti, denied us of that. Cheers.
Bakkies
Guest
I don't know why McKee didn't start Matavesi in the RWC. He is a far better player than Volavola
Bakkies
Guest
I know and related to Lloyd Walker
soapit
Guest
totally delused
English twizz
Guest
Jason Robinson
DaveR
Guest
Jock, so are the press (delusional).
Jock Cornet
Guest
The Aust public are officially delusional. Our super sides can't win a game yet we have won the Rwcup