James Slipper makes bold Wallabies prediction for 2027 Rugby World Cup

James Slipper insists the Wallabies will go deep at the 2027 Rugby World Cup on Australian soil, believing the team has the players and coaches needed to succeed at the showpiece tournament “no matter who we come up against.”

Australia currently sit seventh on World Rugby’s rankings, meaning the World Cup hosts are on track to be in the second band of teams for the pool draw on December 3. That will see them take on one of the world’s top six teams during the group stage.

As things stand, the Wallabies could be drawn in the same pool as two-time defending world champions the Springboks or arch-rivals the All Blacks. They could also be pitted against Ireland, England, France or Argentina from the top band of teams.

The Wallabies turned heads in August with a 10-point triumph over the British & Irish Lions before an incredible 38-22 comeback win over the Springboks in Johannesburg, but they’ve won two of their eight Test matches since – beating Argentina in Townsville and Japan in Tokyo.

‘Slips’ isn’t sounding the alarm just yet, with the most-capped Wallaby of all time keeping the faith two years out from the World Cup opener on October 1, 2027, when they’ll take on a pool stage rival at Perth’s Optus Stadium.

“We’ll go deep. I don’t need to justify that, well I probably do after the weekend,” Slipper said on Stan Sport’s Between Two Posts Extra.

“We do have the players, we’ve got the coaches. Obviously Les [Kiss] coming in, I haven’t been personally coached by Les but along the same lines as Joe [Schmidt].

“I’ve got a lot of confidence in this group. It’s a group that’s had some really good wins. We’ve built a lot of belief and a lot of confidence in how we want to play.

“Sure, we haven’t been playing to the abilities that we know we have and I’m sure we’re going to get a little response this week against the Irish.

“I do think we’ve got the game, the players, to go deep no matter who we come up against.”

The Wallabies have played 13 Test matches this year already, and they have another two to go before their season comes to an end. They’ll take on Ireland at Dublin’s Aviva Stadium this weekend before their season finale away to France.

Australia are looking to bounce back after an 18-point defeat to England at Twickenham’s Allianz Stadium and a 26-19 loss to Italy in Udine. Louis Lynagh and Monty Ioane scored pivotal second-half tries as the Azzurri held on for a historic victory.

It won’t get any easier for the Wallabies, with their next opponents full of confidence and belief after a 41-10 win over Japan. Ireland bounced back from their loss to the All Blacks in Chicago in style, piling on the points against the Brave Blossoms in Dublin last weekend.

“It’s always the interesting thing around this time, the Irish are just getting back together after a bit of a refresh year from the Lions,” Slipper explained on Stan Sport’s Between Two Posts.

“The Wallabies are on the opposite end of that, they’re going into their 14^th Test so there’s going to be two different tales there, one’s pretty fresh, one’s hanging on a bit.

“If we can muster up a good prep week… it’s going to be close either way but I reckon we’ll win.”