Aussies wary of Wood and O'Driscoll

Ireland’s inspirational captain Keith Wood and midfield destroyer Brian O’Driscoll have been pinpointed as the chief dangermen to Australia’s chances of progressing through the World Cup’s so-called “Group of Death“.

The Wallabies are steeling themselves for the toughest start of all the leading nations, with Argentina lying in wait at Telstra Stadium on October 10.

Australia, who historically struggle against the Pumas, then face Ireland in Melbourne on November 1.

Defeat to both is unlikely but feasible and would almost certainly see the Wallabies eliminated in the group stages.

Winger Wendell Sailor warned Argentina’s livewire scrum-half Agustin Pichot will be a threat, but it is the Irish duo, who so taunted Australia during the British Lions tour in 2001, that have caught his attention.

Asked by the Sydney Sunday Telegraph which players are most likely to ruin Australia’s World Cup dream, Sailor said: “I’d have to say Brian O’Driscoll, he’s pretty special, and Keith Wood. O’Driscoll is such a leader in the backs, but Keith Wood – as a team man – they don’t come much better than him.

“Over the last few years he has proved that on his day he’s the best hooker in the game.

“I spoke to (Australian hooker) Jeremy Paul about him while Wood was injured and he said ’if Ireland get him back they’re going to be a handful in the World Cup’.

“They didn’t even have him at Lansdowne Road and they still beat us.”

That defeat came on a miserable end-of-season tour for the Wallabies, in which they only managed an uninspiring, hard-fought victory over the physical Pumas and a win over Italy.

The loss to Ireland was avenged in Perth earlier this year, but memories of Buenos Aires and Dublin remain strong, leaving the Wallabies acutely aware they must hit the ground running.

“I think our pool is the hardest because you have two teams in Ireland and Argentina who can beat any team in the world,” said Sailor.

“Look at Argentina – I thought they played well against the Springboks this year and probably deserved to win.

“Ireland have already knocked us off and have won consistently for the past two years. We know if we are not on our game we are going to struggle.”

Coach Eddie Jones, having opted not to organise warm-up matches against club and provincial sides like the South Africans, has been directing full contact internal trial matches.

Fitness co-ordinator Jason Weber, who convinced Jones after Australia were thumped 50-21 by New Zealand in Sydney that the squad were not nearly fit enough, has put the players through an intense regime.

And utility back Mat Rogers is convinced the Wallabies will reap the benefits of the hard work as soon as they are unleashed on the pitch.

“I find it amusing when I read certain people saying the team will lack match practice or match fitness leading into the World Cup,” he said in the Sun-Herald.

“We have now had two internal matches, with one more to come, and the level of competitiveness is lifting every time.

“The game we played yesterday definitely went to the next level. It makes you think just how much you will be putting in for the starting game of the World Cup.