O’Neill non-committal about IRB’s one-off match proposal

AUSTRALIAN Rugby Union boss John O’Neill has lent cautious support to a proposed one-off match between the Tri-Nations and Six Nations champions.

The International Rugby Board will discuss the proposal at a meeting of the world’s leading rugby nations in Hong Kong on Sunday.

Hong Kong, which is already slated to host a Test between Australia and New Zealand, is the favoured venue should the champions of both hemispheres meet.

O’Neill is not totally against the idea but was guarded when asked if Australia would enthusiastically back the proposal. “It’s on the agenda – nothing is in and nothing is out at this stage,” he said in Sydney yesterday.

“I think it has merit but it can’t be looked at in splendid isolation. It’s a concept that has been looked at before and we will work though the pros and cons and be able to make a decision on that in April.”

O’Neill was also reluctant to commit the game to Hong Kong at this early stage, declaring: “It’s one venue. We’re keen to expand the game into Asia in any way we can and we’re looking at our own prospects in that regard.

“Hong Kong and Dubai are the sort of places that would be really up to that occasion.”

Meanwhile, England and Leicester scrum-half Harry Ellis is on the verge of a comeback after 10 months out with a knee injury.

The 25-year-old has not played since rupturing his left anterior cruciate ligament last May, an injury which forced him out of the World Cup.

Ellis came through 40 minutes of a Tigers academy match this week and may make the bench for Saturday’s Guinness Premiership game against Leeds.

“He’s getting close,” coach Marcelo Loffreda said.

“He’s encouraged by being with the team, he’s having more sessions and he will be back in not a long time.”