 South Africa captain John Smit celebrates winning the 2007 World Cup |
Wales will begin their 2011 World Cup campaign against holders South Africa in Wellington. Hosts New Zealand open the tournament two days earlier on 9 September against Tonga at Eden Park in Auckland. England begin their campaign the next day in Christchurch with a crucial game against world number four Argentina. Scotland face a play-off winner in Invercargill the same day, Ireland meeting the second Americas qualifier in New Plymouth on 11 September.  | 606: DEBATE |
Thirteen venues have been chosen to host games throughout the tournament with Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch to host five pool matches. North Shore (Auckland), Hamilton, New Plymouth, Rotorua and Dunedin will host three games with two games to be played in Whangarei, Nelson, Palmerston North, Napier and Invercargill. Wellington and Christchurch will also host two quarter-finals each. Last-eight matches involving teams from pools A and B will be played in Christchurch and those involving pools C and D will take place in Wellington. | Our philosophy all along has been a 'Stadium of Four Million' Rugby New Zealand 2011 chief executive Martin Snedden |
The semi-finals, bronze medal match and final will also be played at Eden Park. "Our philosophy all along has been a 'Stadium of Four Million'," said Rugby New Zealand (RNZ) 2011 chief executive Martin Snedden, who has been keen to take the tournament to the entire country. "RNZ has worked very closely with Rugby World Cup Limited [RWCL] over the past few months to bring this to a reality. "Our collective view is that the match schedule represents the best balance between ensuring a successful tournament in New Zealand while also recognising its global standing." Sixteen venues put applications forward to host matches and Auckland's Mount Smart, Tauranga and Queenstown were the ones to miss out. "It's sad for those areas and sad for us too," Snedden added. "We are looking at ways that people of Tauranga and Queenstown are directly involved in the nationwide delivery of this tournament." Mount Smart missed out because Auckland was already heavily involved in the tournament with Eden Park hosting the high-profile matches at the end of the tournament as well as pool games, and North Shore having three group matches. Mike Miller, managing director of RWCL, said the number of venues had been a "hot topic" in recent weeks but felt the right balance had been struck. "The stadium of four million people is a concept we fully endorse but we are looking at a stadium of four billion viewers," he said. "This is not just about New Zealand, it's about the whole world and the chance for rugby to showcase our sport and for you [New Zealand] to showcase your country. "I do think we have reached a fair compromise."
Pool A
New Zealand, France, Tonga, Americas 1, Asia 1 Pool B
Argentina, England, Scotland, Europe 1, play-off winner Pool C
Australia, Ireland, Italy, Europe 2, Americas 2 Pool D
South Africa, Wales, Fiji, Oceania 1, Africa 1
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