Wallabies coach Robbie Deans believes the rampant Queensland Reds' momentum can provide the impetus for Australia to claim this year's Rugby World Cup.

Deans on Friday declared the Wallabies could ride off the back of the Reds' Super Rugby success, much the same way South Africa surprised by taking out the 2007 tournament in France.

The catalyst for the Springboks' turnaround four years ago came from the Pretoria-based Bulls' charge to the Super Rugby title, which included a record 92-3 final-round humiliation of the wooden-spoon Reds.

Queensland showed how far they had come last Sunday when Ewen McKenzie's team triumphed in an epic 17-16 victory over the competition-favourite Crusaders in front of a sellout crowd of 48,301.

Despite the victory coming against his old team, Deans admitted no one walked out of Suncorp Stadium happier than himself, as he believed the success and self belief was transferable to the Wallabies' World Cup quest in New Zealand, starting September 10.

"It's key, particularly when you look at our recent history at Super Rugby level or Tri-Nations level," said Deans.

"Somewhere along the line, you have to get started and that's what we're witnessing here.

"We talked about it prior to the season commencing being an important element.

"We have got to build momentum and we have to build belief and that's what we're witnessing in the Reds game."

While no Australian team had lifted the Super Rugby trophy since the Brumbies in 2004, the Wallabies' last major success was in 2001 when Australia took out the Tri-Nations.

Their inability to close out second-half leads has been the major Achilles heel under Deans.

But the New Zealand-born coach took great heart from the growing maturity of his Test halves, Will Genia and Quade Cooper, whose leadership and composure in Bledisloe-like intensity led to the Reds' last-gasp success over the Crusaders.

Deans described it as the most memorable match of the year and was most pleased about the table-topping Reds effort to steal it at the death with Cooper's penalty.

While referee Stuart Dickinson's penalty against Richie McCaw was controversial, the Reds had put together a 28-phase attacking play from within their quarter to be in position for the kill.

"The critical thing the Reds were able to do was build pressure to warrant that response," Deans said. "The Reds took an awful lot of pressure (in the match), but still had enough in the tank in the end to produce some pressure of their own and was rewarded for that.

"It had everything and both sides gave it their all and it was a great insight into what's coming but, most importantly, it was great to see the Reds go toe-to-toe and stand up."

Deans will name an extended 40-man Test squad at the end of the Super Rugby season and Queensland's form is expected to see the Reds the most heavily-represented province.

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