Ultimatum over Grand Slam tour

Welsh rugby chief David Moffett has given New Zealand a "take it or leave it" ultimatum if they want the All Blacks to undertake a rare Grand Slam tour of Britain later this year.

Moffett said the only possible date for the test was November 5 in Cardiff at the start of the All Blacks' schedule against Ireland, England and Scotland.

There was no point haggling over alternate dates if the famous rugby adversaries were to commemorate their historic first 1905 clash.

It would be New Zealand's first Grand Slam tour since 1978.

After Wales regenerated the stalled Grand Slam talks with their November 5 match offer, the NZRFU suggested they should play the game on December 3 at the end of the tour.

NZRFU chief executive Chris Moller said there were concerns the November 5 offer left the All Blacks with little preparation and travel time after the October 22 NPC final. He detailed those concerns and counter-proposals to Moffett, but got an angry rejection yesterday.

"I have told him [Moller] that we have contractual obligations with another party on December 3 at the stadium," Moffett told the Herald.

"We have to take the pitch out to get the stadium ready for that event.

"November 5 is the only date and if I tell him that's it, that's it," Moffett said.

"It is his only choice and I'm not sure when New Zealand will get the chance to do it again. I am absolutely committed to the game - but only on that date."

Original talks about an All Blacks-Wales test failed because Wales were unable to guarantee the release of all their top players from contracts with their clubs.

When that club v country impasse was solved, Wales reopened Grand Slam talks with the offer to stage the test in Cardiff at the start of the All Blacks' end-of-season tour.

"The problem with that is the timeframe," Moller said.

"It is only two weeks after the NPC final and we would like to have our top players in that competition."

Moffett, a former NZRFU chief executive, said his union needed an answer as soon as possible if they were to stage the international.

"If they [New Zealand] are not able to do it, so be it, but it is take it or leave it."

Meanwhile, Moffett said the whole psyche of Wales appeared to hang on the result of their Six Nations match on Sunday with Ireland.

If Wales win, they will be Grand Slam, Triple Crown and Six Nations champions; defeat opens up all sorts of other permutations.

"The expectations are so huge here, there is no middle ground. It is euphoria or despair . . . "