Eddie Jones' shock Wallabies return has the coach on a World Cup quarter-final collision course with his former side England, or old sparring partner Michael Cheika's Argentina.
Either match-up would be one Jones and Rugby Australia relish, with chairman Hamish McLennan declaring Australia can win the tournament in France from September after confirming Dave Rennie's immediate departure on Monday.
Jones will return to the post he lost 18 years ago, on a five-year deal to lead the world's No.6 side.