NZRU tells O'Neill to 'get stuffed'

[Donny]

NZRU tells O'Neill to 'get stuffed'
By Peter Jenkins
November 15, 2003

ARU boss John O'Neill has challenged New Zealand to risk the Bledisloe Cup in tonight's World Cup semi-final - and been told to "get stuffed".

O'Neill approached Kiwi officials at a recent SANZAR meeting and suggested the trans-Tasman silverware be contested on a one-off basis if the two sides progressed to a World Cup showdown.

"I asked New Zealand to put the Bledisloe on the line," he said with a smile, only three months after the All Blacks had claimed ownership for the first time since 1997.

"I spoke to [NZRU chairman] Jock Hobbs and [NZRU chief executive] Chris Moller. I said, 'let's put a bit more spice into the World Cup game'.

"It was suggested they bring the Bledisloe over for a one-off. They told me to get stuffed."

The New Zealanders also shot back a request of O'Neill - that he share the gate for tonight's blockbuster.

O'Neill refused. The gate revenue for the semi-final will be $18million, almost four times the previous record for a Test between the two countries in Australia.

The tournament final next Saturday will rake in $31million in gate receipts.

"This is the pointy end," said O'Neill. "We put the last tickets for the final on sale today and they were snapped up in minutes."

Yet the Wallabies-All Blacks semi-final is the match that should never have happened. Not this week at least. When New Zealand had sub-hosting rights to the World Cup, one semi-final was to be played in Sydney, the other in Auckland with the draw ensuring Australia and the All Blacks, barring upsets, would not meet in the semi-finals.

After the IRB stripped New Zealand of matches, the draw was re-cast.

"I recollect the first time around we would probably have played England in the semis," O'Neill said.

"But to win the World Cup you have to beat the best teams at some stage anyway."