Why McCaw is backing Wallabies?

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Australia have the potential to cause yet another Rugby World Cup surprise later this year in Japan, according to former New Zealand captain Richie McCaw.

McCaw, a two-time World Cup-winner, said he expects Michael Cheika's team to come good at the tournament, despite having won just four of their 13 games last year.

"Knowing Australians like I do, they are competitive, hugely competitive and they will get themselves in good situation to compete," McCaw, who led the All Blacks to victory over the Wallabies in the 2015 final, told Reuters.

"They have got the ability to win games now against everyone so you don't want to write them off at all.

"I think sometimes where people are not talking about them a lot leading up to [the World Cup], that's the best thing you can be. You just come in and surprise everyone.

"But from a New Zealand point of view, there is never a surprise that they front up."

Australia have been drawn in a potentially tricky Pool D with Six Nations champions Wales and the vastly improved Fiji in Japan and will enter the tournament without the country's three-time player of the year Israel Folau.

The 30-year-old was sacked after being found guilty of a high-level breach of Rugby Australia's code of conduct after he posted on social media that hell awaits drunks, homosexuals, adulterers, among other groups.

Folau has appealed the decision to the Australian courts.

McCaw refused to comment directly on the case but said it was "sad for rugby".

"Without getting into the debate around who is right or wrong, I just think it is sad for Australian rugby that you are not talking about what Wallabies are going to do," he said.

AAP