(Reuters) O'Neill's late decision to go to Britain from the Hong Kong Sevens instead of home to Sydney comes amid speculation France are trying to help New Zealand regain their sub-host status.
The International Rugby Board (IRB) World Cup arm, the Rugby World Cup Ltd (RWC), have stripped New Zealand of sub-host status for next year's 48-match tournament and given the ARU an exclusive 21-day negotiating period to host the entire event in Australia. That period expires on Friday.
O'Neill made a submission to the RWC in Wales last week.
"We just have a few minor details to sort out. We are on the verge of completing the negotiations." he said.
New Zealand rugby officials were reportedly flying to Paris to hold urgent talks with French counterparts.
The ARU described the speculation about France helping New Zealand to regain their sub-host status as "curious".
"We're sending it to RWC to see what they make of it," O'Neill said. "We don't want to say any more because we don't know where it emerged from."
New Zealand were unable to meet RWC demands for "clean" stadiums free of pre-booked seating and advertising by the deadline of March 8.
Scotland and France are reportedly keen for New Zealand to sub-host the tournament. New Zealand would require the support of both countries at the IRB Council meeting in Dublin on April 12 to have any chance of retaining their co-host status.
