The Australia coach, Robbie Deans, wants to see another World Cup held in his native New Zealand and has warned the tournament organisers against regularly taking it away from established rugby nations.

The International Rugby Board, which has taken a financial hit by awarding the hosting rights to the New Zealand Rugby Union, has said that in the future it can see the event being staged in countries such as Russia, China and Brazil.

"It has been a great event," said Deans, who has shaken up his side for Friday's play-off for third place against Wales. "New Zealand have done it very well. The public have embraced the World Cup across the board and it has been about more than the All Blacks winning, which they may do anyway, which would be great for a nation waiting for that for a long time.

"It has been a success and the interesting thing for the IRB is will it ever come to a place like New Zealand again? Given that they are the premier rugby nation right now and have no intention of letting go of that in the future, that has got to be a consideration for the governance of the game.

"If you ask people who have gone to great expense to visit this country, they will say this is a proud rugby nation and that is important. You cannot just go to a commercial destination for these events all the time, but I cannot go too far because I will get into trouble."

Deans said he sympathised with his opposite number for Friday's match in Auckland, Wales's Warren Gatland, who admitted earlier in the week that he had considered the idea of going to uncontested scrums after feeling his captain, Sam Warburton, had been unjustly sent off in the semi-final against France, only to decide it would be morally wrong.

"I have never cheated, but I have been accused of it," Deans said. "I am not in Warren's shoes, but I can understand his frustration. Perhaps having eight substitutes so that all the front-row positions are covered would be the way forward.

"I do not think the Warburton sending-off will make the play-off more meaningful to Wales than us. We will be up for it. Wales are a very good side and they have shown a lot of quality. They have been unlucky. We are the two youngest sides here and we have both picked attacking lineups so I would not expect the game to be a kicking contest."

The second-row Nathan Sharpe will win his 100th cap for Australia, 10 years after turning down an approach from Wales. "I spoke to Graham Henry [now the All Blacks coach], who was coaching them then," he said. "My grandfather was born in Wales but I chose Australia. I guess it is a coincidence that I am reaching my landmark against the other country I could have played for."

The former New Zealand wing Jonah Lomu turned up at Australia's training session on Wednesday after Deans, his former backs coach with New Zealand, got in touch with him. "I thought he was a security guard at first," Sharpe said. "It was good to see him and he spoke to guys individually."

Deans said that Australia and Wales had the chance to show that the game had moved on from the last World Cup. "I think it is in a better state than it was in 2007," he went on. "The new laws have helped and I think it is easier to watch. There will be a discussion about the laws again next year and there are still a few niggles."

Kurtley Beale has recovered from a hamstring strain to return at full-back for Australia, who have gone with their most attacking back division at Eden Park, while only two of the forwards who started Sunday's semi-final against New Zealand, James Horwill and David Pocock, survive.

Wales, meanwhile, have been keen to stress they have dealt with the fallout from Warburton's dismissal and the subsequent defeat. "It was a devastating blow to come so close to making the final, but we have got to move on," the Ospreys hooker Huw Bennett said. "We are involved in a play-off and if you cannot get up for that, you are in the wrong job. We are relishing taking on Australia."