John Eales says Michael Cheika’s Wallabies can repeat 1999 World Cup winning effort

IF the 1999 Wallabies shocked the world, the captain of that side is predicting an even bigger surprise two years from now.

NOBODY saw the 1999 World Cup-winning Wallabies coming, and legendary captain John Eales says the current crop can produce a similar surprise 20 years after their last triumph.

Few predict the Wallabies to make an impact at the 2019 World Cup in Japan, even after they were given an easier draw after being pooled with Wales and Georgia as main rivals this week, but Eales said there was similar feeling about his team.

Australia’s atrocious Super Rugby form this year makes it tough to see how they can fashion a rise to the top of the world within two years, yet ARU board member Eales says it is possible.

Wallabies captain John Eales clutches the William Webb Ellis trophy after Australia defeated France in 1999 World Cup final in Cardiff.

“I look back to that team we had in 1996, largely that team goes on and wins a World Cup and is considered the best team in the world, wins five Bledisloe Cup series in five years, beats South Africa, beats everyone, no one would have said that would have happened, with that team in 1996,” Eales said.

“In 1996 we were a team that had enormous ability, but not a lot of confidence.

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“It took a bit of inspiration at different levels to turn ability into confidence.

“That’s the magic. What’s the secret source to that? Michael Cheika has done that before with the Wallabies.

“Last year wasn’t as good a year, the year before was a great year, and could’ve been an unbelievable year if we had won the World Cup.

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“Now the difference at that level between great years and not very good years, it’s a fine line.

“England are the second-best team in the world, but the series in Australia last year, every one of those games could’ve gone the other way.

“They’re ranked No.3 in the world. Are they happy with being ranked three? No, but they’re fine lines. Turnarounds can happen really quickly.”

The 1999 team is now iconic, featuring not only Eales but fellow legends George Gregan, Stephen Larkham and Tim Horan.

To win the next World Cup, the Wallabies must have a similar number of world’s best stars.

The ‘99 was filled with legends.

Eales called for critics of Australian rugby, who grow by the day, to be measured in their responses to poor performance.

“It’s easy to be on the sidelines now criticising and slanging, but when you’re not the one who is dripping the blood and losing the sweat — you’ve got to make sure your suggestions and criticisms are with respect of the knowledge they’re the ones who are putting it all on the line,” Eales said.

“You’ve got to respect that they’re out there doing their best for their country, themselves and their families.”

Australia’s Super Rugby sides have just three wins from 31 games against overseas opposition this season.

“All the teams at different stages have produced really outstanding performances, we’ve just got to make those outstanding performances more consistent,” Eales said.

“If you look at the Reds against the Crusaders, the Brumbies for a large part of that game against the Hurricanes, the Rebels against the Waratahs and in Durban, the Western Force against the Chiefs and Kings.

“There’s no shortage of passion, but it’s being able to tap into that passion and give it some purpose around the edges. There’s enough people playing really good rugby for the Wallabies to have an outstanding team going into this year.

“Being able to make sure those guys are confident going into those games is more of a challenge, but it’s a challenge we all face at different times.”