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STRIKE another one up for Scotland over Australian rugby. We can reveal one of Sir Alex Fergusons last acts after 26 years as Manchester United manager was to scuttle plans for the Wallabies to play at the clubs famous home ground, Old Trafford.
Having promised to spread the tournament through England, the organisers of the 2015 Rugby World Cup wanted to stage Australia’s Pool A match against Wales in Manchester.
Concerned about the ground getting munched up with scrums and rucks, it’s understood Fergie personally intervened and convinced club bosses to pull Old Trafford out of consideratrion for the RWC venue pool.
The Wallabies-Wales match was then set to be played at Wembley, until someone realised the NFL has a booking for the ground for several weeks in the tournament. No games, just a booking.
That was out too. The Welsh then kindly offered to host the Wallabies in Cardiff, and the dollar signs gave organisers brief pause. But hard ARU lobbying won out, and the match will be played at Twickenham.
http://www.perthnow.com.au/sport/rug...-1226638984791