The winning ways of world lightweight double scull champions Sally Causby and AmberHalliday finally returned as Australia dominated the world rowing titles repechages in Milan, Italy.

A shock defeat in the heats earlier this week forced hot gold medal favourites Causby and Halliday to qualify for the semi-finals via the cut throat repechages.

But the Australians regained their form in time to cruise past Spain and Ireland and keep their gold medal hopes alive.

They led an Australian charge at the world titles that chalked up a final tally of five repechage wins, with a total of seven crews moving through to the semi-finals.

Other Australian repechage victories went to the men's eight, men's four, men's lightweight double scull and men's lightweight single scull.

Also through were the Australian men's quad scull which came second and the women's pair which finished third in its repechage.

In the blue ribbon men's eight, Australia jumped out to an early lead in the 2000m race and eventually held out Croatia and France by half a length.

The men's four of Stuart Welch, Nick Baxter, James Chapman and Stephen Stewart led throughout the 2000m race and defeated nearest rival Denmark by two thirds of a length.

"We had a good first 1000m and then were conservative for the semis which are going to be a lot tougher," Stewart said.

"The progression to the final 12 (in the semis) was critical as the four is required to finish in the top 11 at this world championships to qualify for next year's Olympics."

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