There’s little evidence to suggest the Wallabies will mount a sustained assault on the ninth edition of the Rugby World Cup.
But there are intangibles that say they can, leaving Australian greats Phil Kearns and Stephen Moore quietly convinced another over-achievement is brewing in Japan.
Two of Australia’s finest hookers and both former captains are adamant Michael Cheika’s men can defy the odds and go deep.
They’re the most experienced squad at the tournament in terms of combined Test caps yet the sixth-ranked Wallabies barely rate a mention when pundits assess the likely winners of what shapes as an open contest.
The grim forecasts are understandable.
Since surprising the world by reaching the final four years ago at Twickenham, where they lost to New Zealand, the Wallabies have won 20 Tests and lost 25.
Interest in watching and playing rugby is wavering in Australia, their Super Rugby teams continue to languish and the maelstrom surrounding Israel Folau is a cyst the sport has struggled to pop throughout 2019.
However, Kearns has seen enough to be convinced another tilt at the Webb Ellis Cup is on.
Their enigmatic coach gives him a primary reason to believe.
“It’s the beautiful mystery of Michael Cheika,” Kearns told AAP.
“In 2015 no one expected us to get anywhere near the final and then suddenly we’re in the final and in the game. Cheik’s done it once, he can do it again.
“I’m a fan of his as a coach. He does really focus on physicality and aggression and he gets the mentality of the guys.”
Cheika has said he’ll quit if the Wallabies don’t go one better in Japan and match the glorious Australian deeds of 1991 and 1999.
Moore was the 2015 skipper and believed Cheika will have again devised ways to squeeze out the team’s full potential.
“We spent a huge amount of time together in England away from rugby and formed a kind of backs-to-the-wall spirit,” he said.
“I think that’ll suit this team as well because there’s no distractions. You’re close all the time and want to do that little bit extra for each other.
“It’s hard to measure but that is what adds up to overall success.”
On the field, Kearns believed last month’s 47-26 triumph over the All Blacks in Perth is the template for Australia to build from.
Playing with speed and accuracy, they flummoxed the world champions with a blend of physicality at the breakdown and deception among a backline playing ball-in-hand rugby.
The 36-0 loss in the return Bledisloe Cup Test a week later showed what happens if a base isn’t established first, Kearns said.
“The possibility that we can play some screamingly good rugby is there. At World Cups, you’ve only got to put three of those together really,” he said.
“We’ve always done well at World Cups and even when we do lose, we’ve never been resoundingly beaten.
“We’re not the favourites but that doesn’t matter. Every time we’ve been the favourite we haven’t done well.”
