Nick Farr-Jones doubts the Wallabies believe they can win the Rugby World Cup and says that anything less than a semi-final appearance in France would be a "disaster".
The first Wallabies captain to win the World Cup says his side travelled to Europe in 1991 knowing they were the best team in the world.
But, lamenting Australia's "dreadful" pathways system and suspect start under returned coach Eddie Jones in two Test losses this month, Farr-Jones struggles to mount a case for the Wallabies in France later this year.
"I can't imagine after those sort of losses (against South Africa and Argentina), playing not great rugby, you can jump on a plane and have any sort of confidence," he told AAP at a function in Brisbane to launch the 2025 British and Irish Lions tour schedule.
Australia play New Zealand twice in coming weeks then face the hosts in a World Cup warm-up, before pool games against Georgia, Fiji, Wales and Portugal from September 10.
A quarter-final against either England or Argentina beckons should they progress out of their group, but Farr-Jones thinks even winning that would paper over the cracks.
"We're blessed with the draw and we should make a semi-final otherwise it'll be a disaster," he said.
"Even then people will gloss over that and say it was reasonably successful."
"It can't be (a positive outlook) and that's not just the team's performance, it's the game.
"I focus on life, family, my work, friends. If I focused on rugby I would be depressed because for the last 20 years it hasn't been a great story.
"Our development pathways haven't been well managed by the (RA) board, they're dreadful.
"Until you start to win and build it so young kids know who the players are and want to be like them, get people interested in the game, I'm not sure about our future."
Jones will name his squad to face the All Blacks at the MCG on July 29 on Thursday.
The coach argued that even if they lose all three remaining games before their first World Cup clash that they can still present at title contenders.
"100 per cent," Jones said on Wednesday.
"What you do at the World Cup as compared to what you do before is two completely different things."
Jones cited poor results in lead-up games while assisting South Africa (2007) and then coaching Japan (2015) at World Cups as evidence in his favour.
"It's how you use the games to get yourself right. Every game's a learning experience for me," he said.
"You develop good habits very quickly and develop bad habits very quickly."
