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Its 2011......
New Zealand...the hosts....have had to approach the ARU to sub-host the tournament due to shortage of clean venues and accommodation.
Australia will play all their pool matches in Australia while Perth hosts a pool containing Argentina, the current world champions as well as England (Th in REC 2007), Fiji, USA (with new Manager Larry NJ) and REC débutantes Russia who are coached by Australian John Connolly.
The Australians are feeling confident under coach "Aussie" John Mitchell who took the Western Force to the Super 14 finals in 2009 only to lose in a close final to the Auckland Blues before winning the 2010 Final against the Crusaders.
Mitchell relinquished the coaching job of the Western Force before the 2011 Super 14 season to his assistant John Mulvihill who has coached the Perth Spirit to their 3rd ARC championship and their 2nd Super 14 final win in 2011 against the Hurricanes where Cameron Shepherd kicked a conversion after the siren to secure a 1 point win.
The Wallabies have been in scintillating form since Mitchell took over from Ewan McKenzie who had led the Wallabies to 16 losses by playing Waratah props Baxter and Dunning for all the tests as well as insisting that his back line combination of Norton Knight and Peter Hewat were the answer to Australias problems.
Since taking over the coaching role Mitchell has led the Wallabies to Tri Nations glory with wins over both New Zealand and South Africa both at home and away.
Australian skipper Matt Giteau says that his team is ready for the challenge ahead and will be looking to his vice captains AJ Whalley and Matt Henjak to share the burden.
The Western Force also boasts a number of players in the Wallaby squad including veterans Scott Staniforth and Nathan Sharpe in their 3rd World Cup as well as Drew Mitchell, Nick Cummins, Cam Shepherd, try scoring machine "Boof" Hardy as well as exciting flankers Richard Brown and David Pocock.
the story continues..............