Rankings mean nothing: Deans

Greg Growden in London | December 3, 2008

DESPITE the Wallabies getting a relatively comfortable draw in the 2011 World Cup, coach Robbie Deans still believes the seventh tournament will be the most difficult to win.

Australia have been drawn in pool C in the New Zealand-based tournament, alongside Ireland and Italy, with two teams still to qualify for the group - most likely to be Romania (Europe 2) and the US (Americas 2). The most interesting aspect of the draw, held in London on Monday, was that if rankings go to plan, and at World Cup time they so often don't, the Wallabies could avoid New Zealand and South Africa until the final.

The Wallabies could easily play Wales in a quarter-final, and Argentina or France in a semi-final. New Zealand are looking at the Springboks as semi-final opponents. As Deans and so many others know, a lot can happen in three years. Nonetheless he is expecting a fierce tournament.

"I suspect this will be the most competitive World Cup ever," Deans said. "Just look at the last one, and the movement of teams. You can talk about seedings, rankings, expectations, but the last World Cup tipped that all on its head. You look at the way teams are developing - equalising and professionalism does that.

"Some of the previously lesser-profile teams are getting access to professional rugby, and they're all coming back. That puts their national team on a much more level footing. No matter what, the World Cup is the ultimate expression of what's good about the game. It's on the day. It doesn't matter what's been before.

"What is interesting about each pool is that it has some history in it. The opening game involving New Zealand and France will be a ripper, based on recent events. Then you have England, Scotland and Argentina drawn together, also Wales and South Africa. Australia and Ireland also have some World Cup history.

"This will all add some intrigue between now and 2011, as the teams move up and down the rankings, but really our focus will be very much on what we do, so that when we get to that point, we are in the best shape possible."

Deans said he would know by March where the Wallabies would be based in New Zealand, and had no qualms about where they might stay. He would be delighted if they ended up in his old home town of Christchurch. When asked if there was a chance of the Wallabies camping in his original backyard, he replied: "You would hope so, because there would be interest in the Wallabies in Christchurch for obvious reasons. I would imagine that it would be in the interests of the tournament organisers to feed off that, but who knows?"

New Zealand coach Graham Henry said the prospect of facing All Blacks heartbreakers France first up was "intriguing".

Last year France defeated New Zealand 20-18 in the quarter-finals at Cardiff, having ended the hopes of a Jonah Lomu-inspired All Blacks side with an even more improbable 43-31 victory at Twickenham in 1999. The losers of their next World Cup clash are still likely to have a good chance of remaining in the tournament and could face England in the last eight.

Tri Nations champions New Zealand are the world's top-ranked side and they have just completed a grand slam of wins over the four home unions of Scotland, Ireland, Wales and England without conceding a try.

The fact remains they've won the World Cup just once, when they staged the inaugural tournament in 1987. As with many of the subsequent editions, they are on course to be the favourites in 2011 and the prospect of failing to lift the trophy on their home soil is not one many New Zealand fans will want to dwell on for too long.

"It is three years away, and a lot can happen in three years - teams get stronger and teams deteriorate," Henry said. "The France versus All Blacks aspect in the pool is intriguing."

with AFP