Australia always seem to raise their game for the World Cup, but fell at the quarter-final stage in 2019

Australia Rugby World Cup Fixtures, Squad, Group, Guide

It has become a cliché that you can never write off the Wallabies heading into a Rugby World Cup and while they had their moments in Japan, they ultimately got knocked out in the quarter-finals by England.

How They Qualified

Australia were one of the 12 automatic qualifiers for the 2019 tournament.

Key Players

Dual scavengers Michael Hooper – their talismanic captain – and David Pocock can demolish attacks when selected together. There are numerous threats in the back-line, including the likes of Samu Kerevi and Kurtley Beale.

Dynamic: Hooper and Pocock are two of the finest back-rowers in the world (Getty Images)

The Coach – Michael Cheika

Passionate, if volatile, Michael Cheika is set for his second World Cup, having bossed his boys to the final last time. The Aussie also coached Leinster to a Heineken Cup triumph.

Mixed results: Cheika has had an up-and-down record as Wallabies coach (Getty Images)

Major Work-ons

Australia inflicted a record defeat on New Zealand during the Rugby Championship but then failed to score a point against the All Blacks a week later. They have struggled to string together consistent results and can be prone to making errors.

Australia Rugby World Cup Warm-ups

  • Saturday 20 July 2019: South Africa 35-17 Australia
  • Saturday 27 July 2019: Australia 16-10 Argentina
  • Saturday 10 August 2019: Australia 47-26 New Zealand
  • Saturday 17 August 2019: New Zealand 36-0 Australia
  • Saturday 7 September 2019: Australia 34-15 Samoa

Related: 2019 Rugby World Cup Warm-ups

Australia Rugby World Cup Group

Australia are in Group D alongside Wales, Fiji, Georgia and Uruguay.

Related: 2019 Rugby World Cup Groups

Australia Rugby World Cup Kit

Australia Rugby World Cup Fixtures

Familiar Foes: Australia will play Wales at the 2019 World Cup (Getty Images)

Australia Rugby World Cup Squad

Michael Cheika has named his squad for the tournament which is below:

Forwards (17): 
Allan Alaalatoa
Rory Arnold
Adam Coleman
Jack Dempsey
Folau Fainga’a
Michael Hooper (captain)
Sekope Kepu
Tolu Latu
Isi Naisarani
David Pocock
Izack Rodda
Lukhan Salakaia-Loto
Rob Simmons
Scott Sio
James Slipper
Taniela Tupou
Jordan Uelese.

Backs (14):
Adam Ashley-Cooper
Kurtley Beale
Bernard Foley
Will Genia
Dane Haylett-Petty
Reece Hodge
Samu Kerevi
Marika Koroibete
Tevita Kuridrani
Christian Lealiifano
James O’Connor
Jordan Petaia
Matt Toomua
Nic White.

Related: 2019 Rugby World Cup Fixtures

Previous World Cup Results and Record

Australia’s Rugby World Cup Record: P53 W42 D0 L11

  • 1987 Fourth
  • 1991 Champions
  • 1995 Quarter-finals
  • 1999 Champions
  • 2003 Runners-up
  • 2007 Quarter-finals
  • 2011 Third
  • 2015 Runners-up
  • 2019 Quarter-finals

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