Eales confident in Wallabies

Eales: Confident in Australia

I think we've got to look very positively at what's ahead for the Wallabies and the Grand Slam tour is a wonderful opportunity

John Eales
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Former Australia skipper John Eales is confident that the Wallabies will bounce back from their poor run of late to dominate in the 2011 World Cup.

Australia, who are set to face Grand Slam Tests against England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales in consecutive weeks, have won just one of their last seven matches and have suffered four successive Bledisloe Cup losses.

However Eales, who captained the Wallabies for 55 of his 86 Test appearances, pointed out that things can quickly turn around, highlighting his side's struggles in 1997 two years before their 1999 World Cup success as an example.

"They're in better shape than we were (in 1997)," said Eales. "There are parallels (between the two sides) with potential but they're in better shape than we were."

Although Eales is adamant coach Robbie Deans has the talent at his disposal to secure long-term success, he is less sure of the Wallabies' Grand Slam abilities for the upcoming matches.

"The Grand Slam, I don't know it's going to be tough," said Eales.

"Ireland are one of the best teams in the world and so are Wales, England are never easy at home and Scotland scrap their way to unlikely victories a lot of the time."

Confidence

Eales blamed a lack of confidence when questioned on Australia's recent lack of success. "Confidence is a funny thing," he added.

"When you've got it sometimes you don't know why you've got it and when you haven't you don't know where to get it and I'm sure they are in that space against the All Blacks so, one win can make a big difference."

The clash against England at Twickenham will mark the beginning of Australia's first Grand Slam campaign in 25 years.

And although injury-plagued England are the underdogs, Eales is expecting the home factor to make a difference.

"It's a crucial game because starting a Grand Slam tour you don't want to be out of the Grand Slam after game one," he said.

"They'll be very tough, I mean England in England at Twickenham, very hard."

Meanwhile, Eales believes flanker Rocky Elsom is the perfect candidate to lead the Wallabies to future success.

"Rocky's a very capable guy, he's been touted as being the best player in the world so he's a very influential guy, very important guy for the Australian team and he's taking this role very seriously," said Eales.

"You can't expect someone to just step in to a role and be a world beater as sometimes people do. Leadership is incremental, you're going to learn from every experience.

"So I'd imagine it'd be good for him to have his first one out of the way and he'll build from that, but I think we've got to look very positively at what's ahead for the Wallabies and the Grand Slam tour is a wonderful opportunity."