Darren Walton | June 28, 2009

TEST legend Tim Horan senses the Wallabies are on the verge of another special era that just may lead to an unprecedented third Rugby World Cup triumph in 2011.

As one of only two players, alongside John Eales, to have started in two World Cup final wins, Horan knows what is required for a team to lift the Webb Ellis Cup.

And he firmly believes coach Robbie Deans is building a squad with all the necessary traits, most importantly depth and leadership, to emulate Australia's triumphant outfits of 1991 and 1999.

In particular, Horan sees similarities between Deans's class of 2009 and the '99 Wallabies, who began turning the corner about two years out from their World Cup success.

"I mean, the average age of this group of players is probably a lot less than we were going into 1999, but if they can stick together and maintain their structure, they're a pretty unique group," Horan said.

"This Wallabies team in the next 18 months could be one of the better ones that we've seen.

"They've got a great opportunity to bring back the Bledisloe Cup this year, probably the best opportunity in the last three or four years.

"But also looking a bit further forward to the World Cup, I think we've got a fantastic opportunity ? because with this group there's not too many players who are going to be retiring in the next two years.

"The good thing about it is, while Stirling Mortlock's been there and he's been a fantastic leader, he's been able to develop and Robbie's been able to develop other leaders around him.

"You need that. As we had in '99, you need those five or six leaders that we had on the field calling the lineouts, scrums, backline plays, defensive plays.

"That's why we were so successful. It wasn't just a captain and a vice-captain.

"This Wallabies team is not too far away - a bit to go yet - but not too far away from [also] developing those five or six leaders."

Horan, player of the tournament at the '99 World Cup, believes the Wallabies have an excellent mix of depth, class, youthful exuberance and experience that should be peaking in New Zealand in 2011.

"When there's depth in Australia's front row, you know there's depth right throughout the team, which is a great way to be," he said.

"When we start talking about who's going to be selected at prop, rather than saying there's only one to choose from ? that's what we had in 1999.

"We had Nathan Grey putting pressure on me [for a place in the centres]. There were guys putting pressure on in every position and that's a healthy position to be in.

"And that's what Robbie Deans is looking for, a [genuine] squad. We're lucky now to have two back-up No.10s, whereas a year to 18 months ago we were lucky to have one.

"Like Daniel Carter [with the All Blacks], Matt Giteau is a very important cog in the whole situation for the Wallabies.

"But if he's injured, Berrick Barnes can step up there easily now. If Berrick's injured, Quade Cooper is not far away. He's got a bit to go yet but he's not far away from being a good reserve No.10.

"That's something we haven't had. At the World Cup in 2007, we didn't have the depth required to win those sorts of games."

Horan credits Deans as the architect of Australia's revival after the Wallabies' quarter-final exit at the last World Cup in France.

"Robbie has very clear and concise ideas and the players know where they stand," he said.

"He also gives them the latitude to play what's in front of them and play to their natural abilities. I think it's a good call.

"You can certainly see what Robbie is looking for, you can see the patterns coming now.

"He wants two decision-makers at 10 and 12, but he also wants a very quick back three and out-and-out finishers.

"But the midfielders will have to make the opportunities, provide some space for those guys out wide, and flyers will finish them off.

"I'd like to see Lote Tuquiri there in time. He's too good an asset. But it will come for him; he'll play more Test matches, there's no doubt."

Horan and his old teammates gathered in Sydney on Friday to commemorate the 10th anniversary of Australia's 1999 World Cup final victory over France. Ê