The relaid playing surface at the controversial Lang Park (Suncorp Stadium) was on Monday given official blessing by the Australian Rugby Union (ARU) ahead of next week’s Rugby World Cup.
ARU chief John O’Neill on Monday inspected the newly-laid playing surface at the Brisbane venue for the World Cup and rated it perfect.
Lang Park was dubbed “Sandcorp Stadium” when the sandy and patchy surface was blamed for a number of serious injuries in the first few matches staged at the redeveloped ground in mid-year.
Work earlier this month replaced the shifting surface to allay fears of injuries to the participating teams.
Twice World Cup finalists France will play the first World Cup match at the ground against Fiji on Saturday, October 11.
The inspection party on Monday found the field looking green, lush and even, a far cry from the controversial sandy surface ripped up a fortnight ago.
O’Neill said the surface was “magnificent” and was confident it would be up to the rigours of nine World Cup matches in a month.
“It’s really picture-perfect,” he said at the ground.
“The field is as good as it gets. It’s pretty breath-taking.”
O’Neill said stadium experts had tested the field with positive results.
“It’s good enough to play on now but with 11 days to go before its first match of the tournament it will be perfect.” – AFP