Window open for Wallabies win: Macqueen

Oct 20, 2017 - 4:33 PM The last man to coach Australia to World Cup glory - Rod Macqueen - believes the Wallabies finally have a team to stand up to the All Blacks.

And he reckons the window is open for a drought-breaking victory in Saturday night's Bledisloe dead rubber in Brisbane with two New Zealand superstars sidelined - five-eighth Beauden Barrett (concussion) and lock Brodie Retallick (personal reasons).

The 1999 Cup winning coach admitted alarm bells were ringing during Australia's 54-34 Bledisloe defeat in Sydney, in August.

But Macqueen - who masterminded eight Test wins against New Zealand during his stellar coaching tenure - now likes what he saw from Michael Cheika's men.

"I think we have been a bit concerned early on but now we are starting to see a team I think is capable of really putting it to the All Blacks," he said.

"I think they have a good chance, particularly with two of their top players out.

"It's difficult to predict a win because they have an uncanny ability of bringing in players who do well.

"But without Barrett and Retallick particularly - they have been their two best players for quite a while - so I think this does give us a good opportunity."

Australia are on a four-game unbeaten run with two wins and two straight draws against South Africa.

However, they have not beaten New Zealand in more than two years.

The All Blacks have held the Bledisloe Cup since 2003.

Asked if the Kiwis could extend their Bledisloe dominance for another 15 seasons, Macqueen said: "I hope not.

"New Zealand are a great team, and it's no coincidence they are a great team.

"They work hard but they haven't made a big song and dance about it.

"From our point of view we have to work on our own brand of rugby, what we see as the way forward for the future.

"I think we are seeing some good things happening in their games this year, starting to see a bit of shape and a much better brand of rugby.

"We are being a bit more consistent with our selections and that is paying off on the field."

World Cup-winning Wallabies scrum-half Nick Farr-Jones questioned whether Australia had the mental toughness to finally upset the All Blacks at Suncorp Stadium.

Asked what he thought of Australia's mindset, Macqueen said: "Some of the decisions we have been making on the field probably indicates we've got to be a bit more positive in the way we go about that.

"But that's looking better all the time. I don't know whether their confidence is there or not."

Source: AAP