Wallabies unfazed by RWC draw
Wallaby coach Robbie Deans has taken a pragmatic view of Australia’s demanding 2015 World Cup draw.
The Wallabies were on Monday drawn into the “pool of death” with hosts England and Wales and whilst Deans acknowledged the pedigree of the northern hemisphere heavyweights, he remarked that the tournament will be competitive across the board.
"There will be a lot of comment on our pool without a doubt, based on history, historical strengths and that England are the host nation with Wales in many ways being the second host nation," Deans told Fairfax Media.
"It is going to create a lot of interest, but they are all tough pools. It doesn't matter what pool you're in, it's a tough pool and that's the one thing that has become very clear with the World Cup now.
"There was a lot of comment about there being 20 teams and the suggestions that it was too many because some weren't competitive. There are no suggestions about that now; they're all competitive.
"To win the World Cup, ultimately, you've got to play and beat the best."
England romped to a record 38-21 win over the All Blacks at Twickenham last Saturday and Wales are the reigning Six Nations champion but with the World Cup still three years away, Deans said current form counts for little.
"We've seen in recent times Test match rugby is about in-the-now, it's about on-the-day," he said.
"Nothing that's happened before has any relevance on what's coming after, so we just got to keep working our way through the program."
Deans added that the Wallabies should be able to draw on experience come the 2015 showpiece with his young squad set to continue to develop as a unit.
"I obviously hope so and there is no doubt that they will be a lot more experienced," Deans said.
''This group is just getting started. The exposure of a few extra players this year has made a big difference to our group … You'll see it first in Super Rugby [then] they'll all want to be involved in the Lions and there's a lot of great rugby coming and we've got a group who are becoming experienced and starting now to work their way through some of those moments of adversity, so they're starting to show some really good traits.
"And most importantly those traits are about team and those ingredients are good. It's competition, the resilience they're starting to show and the commitment to each other they're exhibiting. It doesn't happen overnight.
"I understand we were the youngest side and the Welsh were the second-youngest at the most recent World Cup.
"The profile of both groups was similar – the English are also replenishing their group – but for the guys who've experienced one World Cup, they'll be better for it.
"We have got the Lions series coming and they'll be better for that as well; there is no reason why they can't be in good shape come the World Cup."
