Australia coach Michael Cheika dismissed suggestions his side have an easier draw after winning through to a World Cup quarter-final against Scotland.
The Wallabies’ 15-6 victory over Wales at Twickenham on Saturday ensured Australia remained unbeaten at the end of their Pool A games.
Australia now face Scotland, who scraped past Samoa 36-33 on Saturday, rather than South Africa — like the Wallabies two-time world champions.
Cheika’s men, the reigning southern hemisphere Rugby Championship title-holders, will be huge favourites when they return to Twickenham to face Scotland on October 18.
But the Scots have won two of their last three Tests against the Wallabies, although they were beaten 21-15 when the teams last met at Murrayfield two years ago.
Cheika also demanded respect for a Scotland side coached by New Zealander Vern Cotter who had success in charge of French club Clermont.
“What I do know is that Vern Cotter is a very clever coach.
“He had a very successful time in France, which is difficult for an Anglo-Saxon,” added Cheika, who was sacked by Stade Francais in 2012 after two years in charge of the Paris club.
“I’m sure he will have them ready for the knockout games.”
Looking to the future, Cheika stuck to his one-game-at-a-time mantra.
“I know people like to comment based on rankings but there’s no favourable side of the draw, the only favour is that you’re in it.
“You can’t get away with a bad game. Australia has lost to Scotland a couple of times and maybe that’s because they thought they could. We won’t be thinking that this week.”
Cheika said Wallaby back-row star David Pocock had suffered a calf injury but it was not considered too serious.
“David took a bang on his calf but it doesn’t seem too bad,” Cheika said.
Saturday’s result meant Australia had now won 11 successive Tests against Wales.
Wales have won just two out of 29 combined Tests against southern hemisphere powers South Africa, New Zealand and Australia since Warren Gatland became coach in 2008.
That record against the ‘big three’ has cast doubt on Wales’ ability to lift the World Cup, even though they have won three Six Nations titles, including two Grand Slams, under Gatland.
– Character –
But Wales beat South Africa 12-6 in Cardiff last year to end a run of 16 straight defeats by the Springboks.
South Africa, world champions in 1995 and 2007, started this World Cup with a shock 34-32 loss to Japan — the greatest upset in World Cup history.
But they have since beaten Samoa (46-6) and Scotland (34-16) before thrashing the United States 64-0 in midweek to top Pool B.
“It shows what character they have,” said Gatland.
“The disappointment (against Japan), and they haven’t had a great 12 months as a side, but when it’s mattered and people have criticised them it shows the character they have got,” the New Zealander added.
Wales’ match against Australia was a try-less encounter, with Wallaby fly-half Bernard Foley kicking five penalties to two from Welsh No 10 Dan Biggar.
But Wales failure to cross Australia’s line even when the Wallabies were down to 13 men in the second half — following the sin-binning of scrum-half Will Genia and lock Dean Mumm — will not have escaped the Springboks.
“It was courageous defence by Australia,” Gatland said. “We got over the line three times but were held up. It was fine margins.”
Wales’ World Cup campaign has been blighted by injuries and Gatland said centre Jamie Roberts (head) and wing Liam Williams (foot) were concerns ahead of their return to Twickenham next Saturday.