WELLINGTON, May 30 (Reuters) - Robbie Deans and his developing Wallabies side have been given the thumbs-up by Australia's two World Cup-winning captains, who believe the team are on track to lift the Webb Ellis trophy this year.
New Zealander Deans took charge of the Wallabies after he missed out on the All Blacks job in 2007 and was tasked to build a squad to challenge for the World Cup, which will be held in New Zealand from Sept. 9-Oct. 23.
While results had been patchy in his tenure, beating the All Blacks last year in Hong Kong, which ended a 10-match losing streak to the New Zealanders, had pointed them in the right direction, 1991 World Cup winning-captain Nick Farr-Jones said.
"After what I saw last year in Hong Kong I think they can go the distance," Farr-Jones was quoted as saying by the New Zealand Herald newspaper. "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."
Farr-Jones was also impressed with the form of the table-topping Queensland Reds in this year's Super rugby competition, while the New South Wales Waratahs have exhibited the dour steel needed to grind out games -- perfect for tournaments like the World Cup.
"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," Farr-Jones added.
Deans's decision to discard a number of stalwarts and high-priced players and replace them with untested up and coming players was now also paying off, former Wallabies lock John Eales said.
"I think Robbie has made some great choices with his mix of players and game ideas," the 1999 World Cup-winning captain said.
"(Openside flanker) David Pocock is a star now but when he was picked initially, there were others who would have rated ahead of him.
"Same with (flyhalf) Quade Cooper who was brought in before he was a fixture with the Reds.
"Robbie Deans' imprint on the team is much stronger because there has been a changing of the guard."
New Zealander Deans took charge of the Wallabies after he missed out on the All Blacks job in 2007 and was tasked to build a squad to challenge for the World Cup, which will be held in New Zealand from Sept. 9-Oct. 23.
While results had been patchy in his tenure, beating the All Blacks last year in Hong Kong, which ended a 10-match losing streak to the New Zealanders, had pointed them in the right direction, 1991 World Cup winning-captain Nick Farr-Jones said.
"After what I saw last year in Hong Kong I think they can go the distance," Farr-Jones was quoted as saying by the New Zealand Herald newspaper. "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."
Farr-Jones was also impressed with the form of the table-topping Queensland Reds in this year's Super rugby competition, while the New South Wales Waratahs have exhibited the dour steel needed to grind out games -- perfect for tournaments like the World Cup.
"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," Farr-Jones added.
Deans's decision to discard a number of stalwarts and high-priced players and replace them with untested up and coming players was now also paying off, former Wallabies lock John Eales said.
"I think Robbie has made some great choices with his mix of players and game ideas," the 1999 World Cup-winning captain said.
"(Openside flanker) David Pocock is a star now but when he was picked initially, there were others who would have rated ahead of him.
"Same with (flyhalf) Quade Cooper who was brought in before he was a fixture with the Reds.
"Robbie Deans' imprint on the team is much stronger because there has been a changing of the guard."
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