During his four-year stint as Australian coach from 1997-2001, the Wallabies held every trophy available to them, including the Bledisloe Cup (four times), Tri-Nations (twice), the Tom Richards Cup, after a 2-1 series win against the 2001 British and Irish Lions, and the Webb Ellis Cup in 1999. Australia’s defence proved impregnable throughout the tournament, conceding just one try en route to the final against France, which they won 35-12. 

A former flanker, Rod Macqueen achieved an astonishing 81 per cent winning ratio in charge of the Wallabies and had the IRB Coach of the Year award bestowed upon him in 2001. After a successful spell as coach of NSW Waratahs, Macqueen laid the foundations for the ACT Brumbies to become a dominant force in Super Rugby. He was appointed inaugural coach of the Melbourne Rebels in 2011.

In the 2003 Australia Day Honours List Macqueen was awarded with a Member of the Order of Australia.