The only nation to win the Rugby World Cup twice, Australia qualified automatically for the 2003 tournament as defending champions and host union and now have their sights set on becoming the first team to successfully retain their crown.
Australia have only failed to reach the last four once in the four tournaments to date – in 1995 when the defending champions were beaten 25-22 in the quarter-finals by England in a repeat of the final four years earlier.
The Wallabies, who had been a driving force behind the World Cup proposal, finished fourth in the inaugural event in 1987 after losing 30-24 to France in the semi-final and Wales 22-21 in the third place play-off.
However four years later in the northern hemisphere Australia would eclipse this by beating Argentina, Western Samoa, Wales, Ireland (a late try by Michael Lynagh snatched a thrilling 19-18 victory), New Zealand and England.
In 1999, again in the northern hemisphere, Australia lifted the Webb Ellis Cup for the second time after beating France 35-12 in the final, having needed extra-time to beat the defending champions South Africa in their previous match.
The golden era of Australian rugby over the last 12 years also includes two Tri-Nations titles, five Bledisloe Cup successes and an historic first ever series win over the British and Irish Lions in 2001.
Many of the greatest ever Wallabies have played in all or part of this era, including Michael Lynagh, David Campese, John Eales, Tim Horan, Nick Farr-Jones, Simon Poidevin, Willy Ofangengaue, David Wilson and Jason Little.
Two other certain starters from this era are captain George Gregan and Toutai Kefu, while rugby league converts Wendell Sailor and Mat Rogers, a World Cup winner with Australia in the 13-man code, are exciting players of the new generation of Wallabies.