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From correspondents in Sydney
June 17, 2009 Australia have confirmed they will embark on an end-of-year grand slam tour of the UK and Ireland for the first time in 25 years.
It will be the first grand slam tour since the 1984 Wallabies, coached by Alan Jones and captained by Andrew Slack, became the first Australia side in history to beat England, Ireland, Wales and Scotland.
Wallabies captain Stirling Mortlock has welcomed the grand slam announcement.
"The opportunity to go on a grand slam tour is massive," Mortlock said.
"It's been too long since Australia was last able to do one of these tours.
"I was only seven years old at the time of the last one. Consequently I don't have any real memories of that tour, although I have obviously seen television footage of Mark Ella, Nick Farr Jones and the like carving up.''
Wallabies coach Robbie Deans said the tour is one of the toughest challenges in international rugby.
"Last year's spring tour was a great experience for everyone involved, and this one will be even better,'' Deans said.
"It will be a massive challenge, but one that we will be ready for.''
The Wallabies will open the campaign against England at Twickenham on November 7, it was announced on Wednesday.
They will play Ireland at Croke Park in Dublin on November 15 before heading to Scotland for a Test at Murrayfield on November 21.
The last Test of the tour will be against Wales in Cardiff on November 28.
Negotiations to secure the England match have also involved Australia inviting Fiji to play a Test against the Wallabies in Australia on June 5 next year.
AAP
http://www.foxsports.com.au/story/0,...016959,00.html
About time they were given another shot first since 1984 hope they do it again. Be well worth the trip to watch to?.
In the light of day it is really a media hype these days.
Still as many matches as usual and by not playing France they are actually dropping the standard a little.
Nonetheless will be excited when it is on with everyone else when it is on.
Could well be the team to pull it off.
No match against the Baa Baas will lead to debate between this one and the last.
The big winner would probably be Fiji!
Last edited by Burgs; 17-06-09 at 19:52.
"Bloody oath we did!"
Nathan Sharpe, Legend.
Oh sweet... Shall be trying my best to go to at least one of them, Millennium and Twickenham are nice and easy to go from Oxford.
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i am so there. always wanted to go see a rugby game at Millenium. fingers crossed.
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Adore this life
There is no guarantee
Could end by tomorrow