The Wallabies, flush from their Bledisloe Cup-clinching 2723 triumph over New Zealand on Saturday, yesterday played down heightened expectations of Australia's push to become the rugby world's top-ranked nation.
Australia registered their first win in 40 years over the All Blacks at Lancaster Park, Christchurch, clinched the trans-Tasman Bledisloe Cup in New Zealand for the first time since 1986 and claimed their first international win over New Zealand in New Zealand since 1990.
Late tries from Christian Cullen and Jonah Lomu failed to rescue New Zealand as they crashed to defeat. The Australians had taken a commanding lead with touchdowns from Tom Bowman (7 minutes), Matt Burke (37), Jason Little (41) and Stephen Larkham (70).
And although the All Blacks responded through Cullen (77) and Lomu (81) they were unable to complete the comeback.
The Australian team arrived in Sydney late last night to a large gathering of well-wishers at the airport. Captain John Eales and coach Rod Macqueen were quick to defuse comments from 1991 World Cup-winning coach Bob Dwyer and former captain Mark Ella that the current side could become the greatest of all Wallabies.
"I think it's early days yet; it's flattering to hear that," Macqueen said. "I've always thought this was a special team, but we've got a long way to go yet. We're working towards the World Cup but we're happy some good things have happened pretty early on.
"It's very important we keep everything in perspective, we can't get carried away. . . this is just a start," said Eales, who acknowledged the 1999 World Cup as the team's ultimate goal.
New Zealand coach John Hart believes for the first time the Wallabies are equipped to win a TriNations title by scoring a milestone victory over South Africa in Johannesburg in three weeks' time.
"Australia is playing with a great deal of confidence and self-belief," Hart said before the Wallabies left New Zealand. "They have the ability to win in South Africa, where they have not had that ability in the past," added Hart, who felt South Africa would also find it hard to bounce back after playing New Zealand in Durban the previous week.
If the Wallabies win their final game against the Springboks in Johannesburg they win the Tri Nations series and could probably lay claim to being the number one team in world rugby.
Hart recognised the enormous change in the 1998 Wallabies from the insipid 1996 and 1997 versions. The Wallabies' new-found belief under Macqueen has instilled a team pride not seen for the past two years and was a major catalyst in reclaiming the Bledisloe Cup.
All Black captain Taine Randell said: "Australia are well coached and they believe in themselves. Last year they lacked confidence, yet this year they know exactly where they are at."
For centre Tim Horan and fellow Wallaby veteran Phil Kearns it was a chance to savour a rare moment in their careers as they celebrated with a late night skinny dip in Christchurch's icy Avon River.
"It was cold, yeah. We just hopped in and out and back to the pub," said Horan, who added: "It's pretty close to the (1991) World Cup win. The World Cup only comes around every few years, and while the Bledisloe Cup is played for every year we haven't won it too often."
New Zealand: C Cullen: J Wilson, M Mayerhofler, W Little, J Lomu; A Mehrtens, J Marshall; C Dowd, A Oliver, O Brown, I Jones, R Brooke, M Jones, T Randell (capt), M Carter.
Australia: M Burke; J Little, D Herbert, T Horan, J Roff; S Larkham, G Gregan; D Crowley, P Kearns, A Blades, T Bowman, J Eales, M Cockbain, T Kefu, D Wilson.
Referee: D Bevan (Wales).
