Australia want more matches in 2011
Tue, 09 Feb 2010 16:54
Australia could face Canada and Japan at home in 2011 as part of their preparations for the World Cup in New Zealand.
After the 2007 World Cup in France the IRB came to a decision to abandon the test matches that would usually be played during the 'window period' in a World Cup year, leaving only the major competitions on the international calandar for 2011.
This leaves Southern Hemisphere teams rather short on matches to use as preparation for the World Cup, with only a shortened Tri-Nations tournament scheduled.
European teams have organised to play 'friendly' matches against each other in addition to the Six Nations tournament.
The Wallabies are in talks with both Canada and Japan about arranging fixtures as part of a build-up towards the showpiece in New Zealand.
"In 2007, the IRB said that in a World Cup year, there's no inbounds and there's no outbounds," ARU chief executive John O'Neill told The Australian newspaper.
"So next year, we'll have an expanded Super rugby, which will start in the first week of February and go to the middle of July. Then we'll start straight into an abbreviated Tri-Nations. All Blacks for two, Springboks for two -- four Tests. And then straight into the World Cup. It's a tall order.
"We may end up getting one or two teams coming here before the World Cup and we might get a game against them. Canada have expressed a desire. I think Japan has, as well.
"We have encouraged as many teams as possible. Twenty teams are playing at the World Cup. Apart from New Zealand and South Africa, we have encouraged the other teams to play warm-up games in Australia."
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