SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA (Reuters):

The Wallabies flew out of Sydney yesterday bound for the World Cup in France, knowing that anything less than winning the tournament will amount to failure.

Australia are already the most successful country in the World Cup's short history, having won the title in 1991 and 1999 and reached the final in 2003. They are also among the favourites to win in France.

While New Zealand are con-sidered the team to beat, Australia coach John Connolly said the Wallabies were going to France full of belief.

"If you're in the top seven or eight countries in the world, the goal is to win the World Cup," Connolly told reporters at Sydney airport before the team's departure. "So anything short of that is a failure I guess."

Wallabies captain Stirling Mortlock said the Australians, who will spend a week training in Portugal before heading to France, were hitting their peak at the right time after a couple of lean seasons.