Everything you need to know about Australia at the Rugby World Cup in Japan

The Wallabies will enter the 2019 Rugby World Cup after surviving four tumultuous years, but a missing presence lingers.

The Wallabies team charged with chasing World Cup glory.

The Wallabies enter the World Cup with the spectre of the Israel Folau saga still lingering over the team but the side are eager to show they’ve moved on.

With Australia set to kick off the World Cup against Fiji, Wallabies star David Pocock said the team is “the tightest I’ve ever seen it” despite the unprecedented fallout from the Folau issue.

While the legal battle between Folau and Rugby Australia is still ongoing, the World Cup has distracted from the issue, but it is still on the minds of the players.

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Just last week, coach Michael Cheika revealed supporters of the embattled rugby star levelled abuse and threats at him.

Folau was sacked for breaching his employers’ code of conduct in April when he shared a controversial Instagram post that was deemed homophobic.

The devoted “born again” Christian shared an image on the social media platform proclaiming hell awaits “drunks, homosexuals, adulterers, liars, fornicators, thieves, atheists, idolaters”.

Rugby Australia believed the post breached their code of conduct and dumped him but Cheika has revealed he copped a lot of the backlash.

In an interview on GQ Australia’s new podcast The Men Who Raised Us Wallabies star David Pocock admitted the Wallabies had rallied together despite the distraction of the issue hanging over the sport.

David Pocock wants to go out with a bang.

And despite announcing his retirement from Test rugby after the World Cup, Pocock said he was proud to have been involved in Australian rugby during such a significant period of change.

“I’ll speak for myself. I’m so proud of the work that Rugby Australia has done in coming up with an inclusion policy, really trying to make the sport more inclusive and we’ve still got a long way to go as we do in society, but there’s certainly been improvements there.”

It’s a very different Wallabies side from the one that made the 2015 World Cup Final with the side undergoing a two-year revolution, with its greatest achievement the 47-26 win over the All Blacks in Perth last month, unquestionably their best performance in the last four years.

It’s been a tough period for the Wallabies with 2018 bringing four wins and nine losses with only two players — Michael Hooper and Allan Alaalatoa — remaining since the last time the Wallabies played the Fiji in June 2017.

Overall, the Wallabies have won just 20 of 47 games since making the 2015 World Cup Final and sitting sixth in the world rankings.

Folau was unstoppable against the Pacific islanders in their last meeting, scoring two trademark tries — one from a spectacular highball leap and the other via a scything 50m run — emphasising how much he could be missed in Japan.

Hooper said he didn’t want to talk about the past with his focus on another deep run at the World Cup.

“I’m only focusing on this tournament. That’s where my mind is at. Not four years ago, not last year, right now,” he said.

“We’ve had so much time now to be thinking about this moment. We’re finally here so we’re ready to go.”

How long with Folau’s spectre hang over the team?

WHEN IS IT?

The Rugby World Cup started Friday September 20 with Japan opening the tournament with a win against Russia.

The Wallabies launch their World Cup campaign on Saturday September 21 at 2.45pm.

The quarterfinals begin October 19 and 20 with the World Cup Final to be played on Saturday November 2nd.

WALLABIES DRAW (ALL TIMES AEST)

— Saturday September 21, 2.45pm: Vs Fiji

— Sunday September 29, 5.45pm: Vs Wales

— Saturday October 5, 3.15pm: Vs Uruguay

— Friday October 11, 9.15pm: Vs Georgia

FINALS

— Saturday October 19 & Sunday October 20 — Quarterfinals

— Saturday October 26 & Sunday October 27 — Semi-finals

— Friday November 1 — 3rd v 4th Playoff

— Saturday November 2 — World Cup Final

POOLS (RANKINGS)

Pool A: England (3), France (8), Argentina (11), USA (13), Tonga (15)

Pool B: New Zealand (2), South Africa (4), Italy (14), Canada (22), Namibia (23)

Pool C: Ireland (1), Scotland (7), Japan (10), Samoa (16), Russia (20)

Pool D: Wales (5), Australia (6), Fiji (9), Georgia (12), Uruguay (19)

The team is behind coach Michael Cheika.

WHY AUSTRALIA CAN WIN IT

Australia have never finished earlier than the quarterfinals in World Cup history, meaning the Wallabies can turn it on when they are on the biggest stage. Even in 2015, the Wallabies were given no chance but finished runners up to the All Blacks.

Following a horror four years, the Wallabies pulled off an incredible performance to stun the All Blacks in Perth with a 47-26 result just last month.

The other big reason Australia can take out the World Cup is the tightening of the field over the past four years. The All Blacks’ decade of dominance is showing some cracks with the side dethroned twice as world No. 1 and will start the World Cup fractionally behind Ireland on top of the rugby mountain. It’s such a tight tournament, many pundits have said the 2019 World Cup is wide open — why not the Wallabies?

WHY AUSTRALIA CAN’T WIN IT

Four years of tumult in Australian rugby doesn’t see the sport in the greatest of positions for a huge run. The side is sixth in the world — three points shy of the top five and three points ahead of Scotland in seventh. Just 2.15 ranking points separate the top five and while some say they don’t matter, it paints a picture of the Wallabies at a crossroads.

The Israel Folau issue hasn’t helped as it blew up as one of the biggest rugby stories in recent years, without even looking at the on field product.

And the Wallabies huge win after the All Blacks is a reason they can win, but the side couldn’t back it up with a 36-0 loss at Eden Park. The Wallabies need consistency and it’s been a long time since they have tasted it.

But we can beat the All Blacks.

AUSTRALIA’S WORLD CUP RECORD

— 1987: 4th

— 1991: Champions

— 1995: Quarter-finals

— 1999: Champions

— 2003: Runners up

— 2007: Quarterfinals

— 2011: 3rd

— 2015: Runners up

WALLABIES SQUAD

Backs: Kurtley Beale, Dane Haylett-Petty, Reece Hodge, Marika Koroibete, Jordan Petaia, Adam Ashley-Cooper, Tevita Kuridrani, James O’Connor, Samu Kerevi, Matt Toomua, Christian Lealiifano, Bernard Foley, Nic White, Will Genia.

Forwards: Isi Naisarani, Jack Dempsey, Michael Hooper (capt.), David Pocock, Lukhan Salakaia-Loto, Rory Arnold, Izack Rodda, Adam Coleman, Rob Simmons, Allan Alaalatoa, Taniela Tupou, Sekope Kepu, Scott Sio, James Slipper, Tolu Latu, Folau Fainga’a, Jordan Uelese.

HOW CAN I WATCH?

Kayo Sports, Australia’s multi-sport streaming service, will deliver customers live and on demand coverage of all 48 matches.

In addition to all the LIVE action, Kayo will deliver every match of the tournament on demand, meaning customers can catch up anywhere, anytime, on their TV or favourite device.

‘Kayo Minis’ are a condensed highlights package for those who miss the full game and will be available for all 48 matches shortly after the final whistle.

Fans can also warm up to the action with a suite of special Rugby World Cup programming, including classic matches, documentaries, and a dedicated tournament carousel, available on Kayo now.

With Kayo, fans can instantly stream every match of the Rugby World Cup, plus over 50 other sports, live and on demand from just $25 per month.

The Wallabies are ready for some fireworks.

Fox Sports will also delivering all 48 games live and ad break free on two dedicated, 24 hour channels — in HD on Fox Sports 503 and in 4K Ultra HD on RWC 4K (Channel 499).

Channel 10 will have all Wallabies group matches as well as select matches in later rounds.

ODDS

The All Blacks are $2.35 favourites, ahead of England $5 and South Africa $5.25 on TAB. But on Sportsbet, the All Blacks are at $2.37, ahead of England and South Africa at $5.00. The Wallabies are sixth in betting at $17 on TAB and $15 on Sportsbet to take it out.

The Wallabies are also $2.11 to take out Pool D, behind Wales at $1.76 on Sportsbet.

TAB has the Wallabies at $13 to be knocked out in the group stage, $1.95 to go in the quarterfinals, $3 for the semi-final and $8 to make the final.