All Blacks may tour Australia in 2009

The All Blacks may tour Australia in June next year to take on the Australian Super 14 teams

The idea was floated yesterday as the ARU and NZRU expressed ongoing frustration at the understrength touring teams sent to tour Australia and New Zealand by northern hemisphere nations.

Hopes were raised for full-strength touring teams from the north when International Rugby Board officials recently confirmed that northern countries would from now on select their best for the June tours, because all domestic competitions in that part of the world would finish on May 31.

But shortly after the ARU and NZRU learnt that the French Top 14 would end next year on June 6, meaning that once again key French stars would not be able to tour New Zealand and Australia.

Franceare scheduled to play two Tests in New Zealand and one in Australia in 2009. Two Italy Tests are also scheduled for Australia.

"We've been confronted two years in a row with under-strength teams coming to Australia from the northern hemisphere” O’Neill told the Sydney Morning Herald yesterday.

“In 2007, Wales fronted up under-strength, and then this year the French showed up under-strength.”

“Apart from the impact it has on the fans, the viewers at home, sponsors, broadcasters, and the look and the damage it does to the integrity of Test match rugby, the financial cost to the ARU over two years was $1.6 million."

O'Neill added that the ARU was "not obliged to accept an inbound team that doesn't comply with IRB regulation 9, which means best available".

"The alternatives we need to look at includes whether in that window we look at the Wallabies going to New Zealand, and playing the Blues, Crusaders and Hurricanes, and the All Blacks coming to Australia and playing a combination of Australian Super 14 teams," O'Neill said.

"Remember the Lions tour of 2001 ? Canberra Stadium packed, SFS packed, Brisbane packed. You are talking about a full-strength All Blacks side playing against a full-strength NSW team, and so forth. That would lure a crowd.”

"We're not being Bolshevik about it. We are simply saying that we can't rely on the quality of the northern hemisphere teams. Our audience is disillusioned. We're hurting and we should be allowed to look at alternatives. We're looking to expand Super Rugby, and that's our commitment. When that happens it will fill the June window. That will hopefully be in place by 2010.”

"But in the interim, you've got to say Wales 2007, France 2008? Do we really want to insult the audience again?"