Deans predicts 'fierce' RWC competition
Tue, 02 Dec 2008 11:44
Wallabies coach Robbie Deans predicted Tuesday that the 2011 World Cup would be the most fiercely contested in the history of the tournament.
Australia, who have won the World Cup twice, were drawn in Pool C with Ireland, Italy and qualifiers from Europe and the Americas in London on Monday.
"I believe one thing that is really evident is that this next World Cup will be the most competitive World Cup that there's been to date," Deans said in an interview posted on the Australian Rugby Union's website.
He acknowledged that both Ireland and Italy had been extremely competitive in their Tests against the Wallabies this year.
The Australians won a narrow 30-20 victory over Italy in Padova in November and just scraped home 18-12 against Ireland in their first international of the season in Melbourne in June.
"Ireland, a bit of history comes forward there," said Deans. "And that's one thing that came out of the draw - the amount of history in each pool.
"There will be a tournament opener between the All Blacks and France, which will be a ripper. Each pool has its intrigues."
But Deans said the draw would not be a focus in terms of playing the game.
"Our whole purpose between now and then is just to keep building, we're in with a starters chance, along with every side."
Australia captain Stirling Mortlock said his side 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 after the draw in London.
"Italy and Ireland will pose significant challenges," he said.
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.
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