KEY POINTS:
SYDNEY - John O'Neill admits transtasman rugby relations have plummeted and one of his first tasks as Australian Rugby Union (ARU) chief executive is to clear the air.
He'd even welcome a New Zealander to take over as Wallabies coach next year.
Amid much fanfare, O'Neill was yesterday confirmed as Gary Flowers' successor, returning to the post he held with great success between 1995 and 2004 before moving to soccer at Football Federation Australia.
O'Neill said he was well aware of "residual ill-feeling" within the New Zealand Rugby Union over the ARU not supporting its 2011 World Cup hosting bid in Dublin in 2005.
He had built up a strong relationship with departing NZRU chief executive Chris Moller, his replacement Steve Tew and chairman Jock Hobbs, and planned to meet them in Melbourne before the Bledisloe Cup test on June 30.
"I've heard there was some deep-seated disappointment. If there is any bitterness there I want to hear about it and see whether we can put it behind us," O'Neill said. "I'll be working very hard to restore our friendship."
O'Neill admitted that might sound funny to New Zealanders who cast him as the villain when he led the ARU to take over hosting rights for the 2003 tournament when the NZRU couldn't guarantee "clean" stadiums free of advertising.
O'Neill said he had already had discussions with the New Zealand Government who approached him for advice about running the 2011 tournament. He insisted it had his full support.
"I'm ready, willing and able to help New Zealand in any way that they might consider appropriate. I think [2003] is all water under the bridge and I think it's safe to return," he said with a smile, ahead of the Wallabies' test at Auckland's Eden Park on July 21.
O'Neill's primary goal is to address the performance of the Wallabies and Australia's four Super 14 sides who all failed to make the playoffs this year.
Having presided over a World Cup win in 1999, Tri-Nations success in 2000 and 2001, and a narrow loss to England in the 2003 final, O'Neill said a 75-80 per cent win rate was his target.
He revealed the ARU board had agreed to throw open the coaching job to the "best possible candidate" when John Connolly's tenure ends after this year's World Cup. Even a Kiwi?
"You'd never rule it out. There's some wonderful coaches in New Zealand, and if we're looking for the best man for the job you've got to include New Zealanders in that category.
"I've got enormous time for someone like Robbie Deans as a coach and as a person."
- NZPA
