Rugby World Cup-winning coach Rod Macqueen believes the Wallabies are positioning themselves well for a major assault on next year's tournament.

Australia opened their spring tour in Hong Kong with a heart-stopping 26-24 win to snap their 10-match losing streak against world No.1 New Zealand and are now in Europe aiming to maintain the momentum against Wales, England, Italy and France.

Macqueen steered the Wallabies to success in the 1999 World Cup in Wales and, while he says there are differences between his John Eales-led line-up and captain Rocky Elsom's side, he likes what he sees ahead of the 2011 tournament in New Zealand.

"I think (coach) Robbie Deans would be happy in the knowledge that Australia are coming good at the appropriate time," said Macqueen, now coach of Super 15 newcomers Melbourne Rebels.

"Winning World Cups is all about timing and you'd have to say that things are looking good.

"We've got a reasonably young team who are still on the improve so the timing's pretty good."

Macqueen said his Test side one year out from the 1999 tournament was more established than the present Wallabies.

"This is a younger side with some exciting backs in it so they certainly still have time to get prepared for the World Cup."

Macqueen was reluctant to predict the Wallabies would return with the scalps of Wales, England, Italy and France but said both the Australians and All Blacks looked to be playing a level above the northern hemisphere opponents.

"It's dangerous to predict a clean sweep because you only have to lose one and it's all over.

"It's going to be very interesting to see what happens when they get to the northern hemisphere, you'd have to say on the form that they showed they're probably playing a quicker brand of rugby," he said.

"You'd have to say both sides are favoured to come away as winners."

He said the All Blacks would be smarting about their 10-Test dominance over Australia coming to an end and the result would give them something to work on.

"I think there was a bit of a lesson there, certainly the Australian backs opened up some gaps in their defence so I suggest they'd be a bit concerned about that."

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