When it comes to international rugby union, Australia remain one of the true heavyweights and their ability to continue to do so is a remarkable achievement.

In Australia, rugby union is by no means the number one sport, vying for attention most notably with rugby league and Aussie rules football - yet despite plenty of talent slipping through its fingertips, the Wallabies continue to be a major force on the international stage.

The Australian nation takes great delight in their team being the New Zealand All Blacks' nemesis in the annual Tri-Nations tournament, which also includes South Africa. The Wallabies also proudly boast two World Cup triumphs in 1991 and 1999. However, one of their darkest days was their quarter-final exit from the last World Cup in 2007, at the hands of the unfancied England. This defeat sent shockwaves through the sport in Australia.

Despite that, Australia remain a formidable force in international rugby, with a wealth of young talent coming through the ranks to augment the established order. Perhaps more than any other rugby union-playing nation, Australia have an uncanny knack of discovering new players capable of settling seamlessly into the rigours of the international game and this continues to hold them in good stead.

Now coached by the hugely-respected Robbie Deans, Australia look a different proposition to the team that crashed so ignominiously out of the last World Cup in France.

Deans is a first-class operator who demands the utmost from his players, but there will always be rumbles of discontent from supporters of the All Blacks when the Wallabies prevail, for Deans is, yes you've guessed it, a New Zealander!