Veteran winger Joe Roff says the current Wallabies are better prepared than the 1999 World Cup-winning side.

And he believes they are equally as talented.

Roff is one of three Wallabies, alongside skipper George Gregan and Matt Burke, lining up for his third, and final, World Cup.

Despite the Wallabies' poor Test results this year, including only one win in the past five Tests, Roff said the preparation had been unrivalled.

"I think the squad's the best prepared I've ever been involved in, in terms of physical preparation and the organisation," the 28-year-old said.

"We've been on the wrong side of a few matches throughout the Tri-Nations and haven't had the results we'd like but at the same time I think the development the team has had throughout that time has been outstanding."

Roff suffered rib cartilage damage during the opening Tri-Nations match early in July, and only rejoined the Wallabies fold in September following that four Test series.

He said their "knowledge of the way that we want to play" and belief within the side had notably improved.

"Then we were still a long way from where we wanted to be and then I only came back with the team in the last eight weeks' preparation for the World Cup and the difference ... has been quite astounding to me."

He said with the accompanying expectations and pressures of being the defending champions, the squad needed to be better prepared than at past tournaments.

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