Rugby: Wallaby legends back Deans

John Eales. Photo / Getty Images

A hub of World Cup-winning knowledge lives in Sydney.

David Kirk, the first skipper to hold aloft the Webb Ellis Cup, has worked there for some time, Nick Farr-Jones was raised in the city while John Eales has shifted south from Brisbane.

The Wallaby winners like the way Robbie Deans' management and style is flowing through the side, they can see a third Webb Ellis Cup in the ARU's trophy room later this season.

Five other nations can also see the golden statue in their war-chest which has a lot to do with people's birthplace, loyalty and dreams.

Farr-Jones loves the way the Reds have played this year, delivering results and confidence to a number of World Cup contenders.

The Waratahs had been gritty and shown some of the attitude needed in knockout tournaments.

"Robbie will be able to pull the best out of those teams, the depth of talent is growing and I think the Wallabies are well-positioned," said Farr-Jones. "There is also enough evidence to say the scrum is not going to implode and that will be critical.

"We lost at Marseilles in 2007 because our scrum was unstable and you have to have that foundation to win a World Cup. I think we have the cattle there, led by Benn Robinson and Tatafu Polota-Nau."

The Super 15 this year had given Deans many options about players and styles, said Farr-Jones. Deans as much as anyone knew how rugby panned out in New Zealand last winter, said the former Wallaby halfback.

"After what I saw last year in Hong Kong I think they can go the distance," Farr-Jones added. "Robbie brings the coaching maturity and critically understands the dynamics of what is good for the team in a World Cup.

"He has been around a while, he knows the players, he understands their weaknesses and when he needs to get the whips cracking."

Locking great Eales is similarly encouraged.

World Cups were difficult events in which to succeed, he said, but he felt the Wallabies were tracking strongly. Some of those elements had been bedded in for a few seasons while other tweaks would be made on the hoof.

"I think Robbie has made some great choices with his mix of players and game ideas," said Eales. "David Pocock is a star now but when he was picked initially, there were others who would have rated ahead of him.

"Same with Quade Cooper who was brought in before he was a fixture with the Reds."

The Wallabies were getting much more consistent at setpiece, said Eales, they would be competitive although injury was always an unknown and crucial factor. The lineout had matured and showed good substance while the scrum had shown serious development.

"Last year against England we had young frontrowers like Ben Daly and Saia Fainga'a come in, with about 160 minutes of test rugby against England's front row of 160 caps.

"Then there is Stephen Moore, Sekope Kefu, James Slipper who is young and on the way up to go with the experience of Robinson and Polota-Nau, so the depth is building."

The Wallabies had to replace core members George Gregan and Stephen Larkham after the last World Cup, said Eales, but a new team was evolving.

"Robbie Deans' imprint on the team is much stronger because there has been a changing of the guard."