Australia hopeful of England date

Australia rugby union chief executive John O’Neill is confident the Wallabies can clean sweep the home nations after announcing they are close to agreeing the return of the ’grand slam’ tour following a 25-year absence.

O’Neill is hopeful England will agree to play Australia at Twickenham on November 7 following Tests against Wales, Ireland and Scotland – reviving memories of the famous 1984 tour in which Australia won all four Tests under Alan Jones.

O’Neill believes the Wallabies can repeat history a quarter of a century later.

“There’s no reason why not,” he said. “I really think the way this team is developing off the back of last year, that a clean sweep will be on the cards.

“It won’t be easy but with the talent that is coming through – Robbie’s (coach Robbie Deans) been on deck now for a full year – so I think a grand slam repeat 25 years on would be a very, very significant achievement.”

Deans was more reserved, pointing out the Wallabies have a packed calendar to work through before turning their thoughts to the grand slam.

“There will be references made to ’84 and things that have gone before,” he noted.

“It’s going to be a fantastic challenge but you can only deal with challenges as they present themselves and that’s what we’ll do.”

O’Neill revealed the return of the grand slam tour had long been a dream of his, with England the missing piece in the plan.

“We’ve had a couple of cracks in the past and all sorts of things have got in the way but the penny dropped with me last year that we had the other three and were only missing England, the home of rugby,” he said.

“I had a chat to (Rugby Football Union chief executive) Francis Baron and it fell into place.

“It’s a really good game for them to put into their itinerary.

“I think the world economic recession has focused the minds. They’re not alone in wanting to get more inventory and we were happy to accommodate them.”

The ARU boss also announced the ’ink was almost dry’ on an agreement to play a fourth Bledisloe Cup match in Tokyo on October 31.

It follows the success of the Australia-New Zealand encounter in Hong Kong last year.

“Negotiations have proceeded well with the Japanese Rugby Union,” O’Neill reported.

“Taking the Bledisloe Cup to Japan will be another first for the game.

“It’s a great move, a great initiative. It’s another clear message about how serious we are about Asia.”