AUSTRALIAN rugby's chief executive last night denied his officials had squeezed in the one-off Test match with Scotland purely as an emergency money-maker.
John O'Neill insisted the encounter in Newcastle the week after next will be played as a favour to the Scots, to help them warm up for matches against Fiji and Tonga.
O'Neill and the Australian Rugby Football Union had come under fire for adding to an already crowded international programme by accepting the initially unscheduled visit by Andy Robinson's tour squad.
It was claimed that the only reason they had agreed to the fixture was to boost their dwindling coffers.
O'Neill said: "Taking on Scotland just four days before the start of the three-Test series against Wales is not a schedule you would normally plan. This is a one-off to accommodate particular circumstances and the timing of Scotland's trip to the Pacific islands; a favour to Scotland."
There were also suggestions that the Australia v Scotland match is a watered-down affair because the hosts will be without several players from the Brumbies and Waratahs, who are in action the previous weekend.
O'Neill added: "There has been undue emphasis on the tightness of the schedule next month. It is the same in rugby league, where they have the State of Origin series running alongside club games. The selectors will pick a squad of 30 players or more to cover the Scotland match on the Tuesday and the opener against Wales in Brisbane on the Saturday. It is like being on tour in your own country.
"If you go back in time you would see teams go on tour and play well over 30 games and a lot of players would play midweek and then again at the weekend."
On the financial situation at the ARU, O'Neill said: "We made a loss last year but we should break even this year."
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