Wallabies coach Eddie Jones believes Australia is still the number one rugby team in the world, despite its recent losses to England and France.

With England having won 13 of their last 14 Tests, they are likely to challenge Australia for the top spot when the unofficial Zurich world rankings are released in a fortnight.

Jones dismissed the question on England's claims to the No 1 spot when pressed by reporters. "I'm not interested in that. We won the World Cup, let's come back four years later and look at it again then," he said.

An unexpected backer, New Zealand winger Jonah Lomu, had a similar response when asked the same question, saying the world champions were still the top team in the world.

"The Wallabies are a great well-drilled unit, great thinkers of the game, when they get the right man at the helm - like John Eales - it's just unbelievable to see the results they bring out," he said in Edinburgh where the All Blacks are preparing for Saturday's Test against Scotland.

"They are very good at winning. You look at the backing they have at home and they have really benefited from the Super 12. It's bringing them up to scratch."

Lomu said one of the secrets to Australia's success in recent years was the leadership of Eales, who retired after lifting the Tri Nations trophy in September. "A team will show you what sort of leadership you have.

"You have a happy team, and they have a leader that they are willing to die for you will find the majority of the time that you will get the result that you want and John Eales epitomised what a captain should be," he said.

Australia returns to the venue of its 1999 World Cup triumph on Sunday when it takes on Wales at Millennium Stadium in a bid to avoid its first hat-trick of losses since 1995.