The Australian Rugby Union is fighting to avoid being blown into World Cup oblivion as chief executive Bill Pulver conceded Australia might not host rugby's showpiece event until 2031 unless they launch a late bid to win rights to the tournament before then.
Pulver said officials had already canvassed plans to bring the World Cup back to Australia for the first time since 2003 and would monitor the bid process for tournaments in 2023 and 2027. 
Pulver also said he wanted to continue his five-year plan for Australian rugby, declaring he wants to see out the last two years of his contract and give the sport stability at the top.
The Wallabies, who played Scotland in the World Cup quarter-finals on Sunday (Monday morning AEDT), appear to be ushering in a new era under coach Michael Cheika. But the prospect of capitalising on any momentum gained by hosting the World Cup before 2031 appeared slim with Pulver conceding Australia need to "fire our best shot".
The 2019 World Cup will be staged in Japan and if the current trend continues, a tournament in the northern hemisphere would follow in 2023. That would leave Australia to battle South Africa and potentially Argentina for hosting rights in 2027. Pulver said the ARU was desperate to secure the event before 2031.
England and New Zealand had 24 years between hosting their first and second World Cups. Australia would have to wait 28 years if unsuccessful until 2031.
"We're eager to bring it to Australia, we're eager to get it back. Australia hosts a superb World Cup," Pulver said. "But when you look at the southern hemisphere, South Africa is going to bid pretty aggressively for 2023 and beyond.
"It depends which way World Rugby goes, with swapping between northern hemisphere and southern hemisphere hosts, and maybe 2031 is the best option.
"That seems a long, long way down the track. But what you don't want to do is just bid for every tournament, you want to make sure it works."
Hosting the 2003 tournament gave the ARU a $40 million injection. Another financial boost would be beneficial to the future of the game. But it would also potentially expose Australian rugby to renewed financial pressures, considering the prohibitive cost of hosting the World Cup.
Australia were forced to withdraw their bid for the 2011 event, citing unreasonable financial demands from Rugby World Cup Ltd, while Pulver's predecessor John O'Neill said in 2012 that Australia would never again host the tournament unless it was in partnership with another country, such as New Zealand.
But the new broadcast deal, which is expected to provide a $40 million boost to the code's coffers, could have changed the mood at ARU headquarters. Pulver has been meeting with World Rugby and SANZAR officials in London to discuss television revenue from the impending deal and the potential locations for future tournaments.
England is feeling the financial pinch of being the first host nation in World Cup history to be knocked out of the tournament before the quarter-finals. Coach Stuart Lancaster faces being sacked after a review and England is taking an economic hit as locals tune out of the tournament.
Pulver said that had not deterred Australia's plans to regain hosting rights in the future as rugby fights with the NRL, AFL and A-League for market space.
"We're monitoring everything very, very carefully, and what I will say with confidence is that we are very, very keen to get the World Cup back on our shores," Pulver said. "I'm not sure if we'll bid for 2023. You don't want to put your hand up all the time and dilute your impact. We will go for the occasion where we think we are most likely to win it."
Pulver hoped a new Super Rugby broadcast deal would be "imminent", with six of the required 11 contracts signed.
The knockout stage
Quarter-final 1: Sunday 2am (AEDT)
South Africa 23 beat Wales 19 at Twickenham
Quarter-final 2: Sunday 6am
New Zealand 62 beat France 13 at Millennium
Quarter-final 3: Played overnight
Ireland v Argentina at Millennium Stadium
Quarter-final 4: Played overnight
Australia v Scotland at Twickenham
Semi-final 1: 2am   October 25
South Africa v New Zealand at Twickenham
Semi-final 2: 3am   October 26
Winner QF3 v Winner QF4 at Twickenham
Playoff for 3rd: 7am   October 31
Loser SF1 v Loser SF2 at Olympic Park
World Cup final: 3am   November 1
Winner SF1 v Winner SF2 at Twickenham