RWC: Mortlock welcomes 'pool pressure'
Tue, 02 Dec 2008 08:00
Australia captain Stirling Mortlock said his side could have no complaints about any weakness in their 2011 World Cup draw, after being placed in a group also featuring Ireland and Italy.
The Wallabies waltzed through the pool phase in France last year only, to lose to England in the quarterfinals.
That defeat led to complaints that the draw had done Australia no favours by leaving them insufficiently 'match-tough'.
But Mortlock, speaking after a draw in London on Monday - which will see Australia also playing qualifiers from Europe and the Americas - said the Wallabies would be tested early on in New Zealand in three years' time.
"Having gone through the World Cup last year, you do want to have a couple of tough matches and that's certainly what we will face against Italy and Ireland," Mortlock said.
"Italy and Ireland will pose significant challenges," added the centre, who saw the Wallabies made to work hard for a 30-20 win over Italy last month.
"You need to have that grounding if you want to progress forward.
Australia have won all four of their World Cup clashes with Ireland, but two of those were by the narrowest of margins - 19-18 in Dublin in 1991 and 17-16 in Melbourne in 2003.
"There has been some decent history between Ireland and Australia in the World Cup and no doubt in three years time we will make some new history," Mortlock said.
AFP
How Mortlock's men cope? Give us your view.
