LONDON, 30 Oct - Australia will have to complete an extraordinary, but not impossible, sequence of victories to lift the Webb Ellis Cup, according to Andy Robinson.

The former England and Scotland coach says the result of Saturday's match between the Wallabies and New Zealand is too close to call, but he has earmarked the key areas Michael Cheika's men are likely to target in their bid to take the title for the third time.

"For Australia to win this World Cup, it will be on the back of an incredible run of matches," Robinson says in his regular analysis for World Rugby TV. "No other team has ever experienced the run that Australia has experienced and gone on to win a World Cup.

"To have beaten England, Wales, Scotland, Argentina and then to go on to beat New Zealand, for them to achieve that will be absolutely outstanding.

"I believe this contest is too close to call, but we have the toughest two competitors in the world playing against each other."

Toughest defence

Key to Australia's chances of success will be their attacking capabilities, says Robinson, who was part of Sir Clive Woodward's coaching team (main picture) that led England to victory over the Wallabies in the 2003 final.

"When they beat New Zealand in the Rugby Championship (in August) ... they scored three tries.

"Australia are going to get seven chances, I expect, in this game. How many of those chances are they going to be able to take? If they can take two or three of those chances they’ll certainly be in the game because they’re facing the toughest defence that’s out there in New Zealand, who have only conceded four tries in the tournament."

The set-piece will be a crucial part of the contest, says Robinson, who is director of rugby at Bristol.

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"New Zealand pride themselves on their ability to contest the lineout, they pride themselves on their scrum. But actually Australia have developed in both these areas in the last two years.

"Will this Australia scrum be able to go one more and be able to put Australia on the front foot? If they can do that they’ll get a foothold in this game. New Zealand contested South Africa’s lineout brilliantly, but Australia are very smart in their lineout play. If they can get their maul going as well as having a really strong scrum, they can put New Zealand on the back foot."

Demolition job

The Wallaby back row of Scott Fardy, Michael Hooper and David Pocock has been one of the standout successes of RWC 2015 and Robinson believes the All Blacks will be aiming to neuter the threat they pose.

"Everybody’s been talking about Pocock, Hooper, Fardy and the demolition jobs that they’ve done, their ability to slow ball down and turn ball over in the contact area.

"I think that this is the area that New Zealand are going to really target. They’re going to be smashing them off the ball, running hard in their areas, getting soft shoulders, but then clearing them out the way."

Robinson believes New Zealand are likely to try to punch holes through the Wallaby lines. 

"What you’ll see from New Zealand in this game is a pick-and-go game, they’re going to go right through the heart of Australia. They’re going to attack their forwards, sucking them in to then be able to attack in the wider channels, potentially looking at short sides but also being able to get into the width where they have such dangerous runners."

Fitting send-off

Australia will also try to attack an area that is usually a source of strength for their opponents, says Robinson.

"The key area for New Zealand is how their half-backs play. (Aaron) Smith and (Dan) Carter are phenomenal on the front foot, but I believe that Australia might just try and target this area and try and knock over Smith and put him under huge pressure.

"(Will) Genia is a smart operator. Is he going to get in the face of his opposite number and really put him under pressure? It’s going to be a great battle to see who can win the contact area, who can slow down each other's ball."

Specialist battles aside, Robinson believes that all-round big-match experience may be the deciding factor in front of a full house at Twickenham.

"Big-game experience is going to be hugely important in this game, and New Zealand have it in spades. They’ve got five players who started the last Rugby World Cup final. The two centres, plus the back row, phenomenal competitors, but also they have Dan Carter.

"McCaw and Carter playing their last games for New Zealand, what a fitting send-off it’s going to be for those two players for New Zealand to win this game.

"They also have history, can they be the first team to win back-to-back World Cups? I believe that’s the spirit that New Zealand are going to be playing with as they go into this contest. I can’t wait to watch it."

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