2011 RWC: Final to start at 9pm, All Blacks to star in first match

Photo / Getty Images

Full schedule with interactive map

Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch will each host five pool matches during the 2011 Rugby World Cup, it was revealed today.

It was also announced that the final and semi-finals will not kick-off until 9pm.

The announcement was made at Eden Park this afternoon with Rugby New Zealand 2011 chief executive Martin Snedden confirming the 40 pool matches will be spread across 13 venues.

North Shore, Hamilton, New Plymouth, Rotorua and Dunedin will each host three matches, while Whangarei, Nelson, Palmerston North, Napier and Invercargill have been given two matches each.

Cities that failed to win pool games were Tauranga and Queenstown. Auckland's Mt Smart Stadium was also unsuccessful.

However, the big winner was Eden Park which was awarded the opening match between the All Blacks and Tonga on September 9 and the much anticipated clash between the home side and France two weeks later.

The All Blacks will also take games to Hamilton (September 16) and Wellington (October 2) against qualifying teams from Asia and the Americas respectively.

The quarter-final match-ups were also confirmed, with the top two teams in Pool A (featuring currently qualified teams New Zealand, France and Tonga) and Pool B (featuring Argentina, England and Scotland) playing off in Christchurch. Wellington will host quarter-finals featuring the winners and runners-up from Pool C (featuring Australia, Ireland and Italy) and Pool D (featuring South Africa, Wales and Fiji).

The dates for the final weekend, which coincides with Labour Day, were also confirmed with the bronze final to take place on Friday October 21 at Eden Park, followed by the final on Sunday October 23 at the same venue.

Snedden said today's announcement reflected the tournament's philosophy of a 'stadium of four million'.

"Today marks the culmination of a 22 month process that has involved regions from every part of New Zealand" Snedden said.

"We are pleased that all 11 regions will have the opportunity to host matches. Given that a total of 16 venues were proposed, we do appreciate that there will be disappointment among those who have missed out.

"In many respects, today is a special day for the successful regions, and they deserve to be congratulated for the time and effort and unprecedented level of co-operation that has been evident throughout this process," he said.

The schedule features a high-powered opening weekend which will see pool B heavyweights Argentina take on England in Christchurch, and defending champions South Africa play Wales in a pool D clash in Wellington.

Final and semi-finals will be played at 9pm. Then two quarter-final matches in Christchurch will be played at 8.30pm and two quarter-finals in Wellington will be played earlier.

The latest possible time for weekend pool matches will be at 8.30pm and the latest possible time for weekday matches (Monday-Thursday) will be 7.30pm.

Just 10 of the 40 pool matches will be played at day time with either 1pm, 3pm or 3.30pm starts.

One of the day games will be an All Black pool match, likely to be their final pool game.

"RNZ has worked very closely with Rugby World Cup Limited (RWCL) over the past few months to bring this to a reality," Snedden said.

"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."

Rugby World Cup Limited managing director Mike Miller said, while the number of match venues is more than Australia 2003 and France 2007 it reflected the organising committee's desire to take the tournament to the entire nation.

"RWCL fully supports this and the desire to ensure the tournament has a unique look and feel that fits in with the cultural background of the nation," Miller said.

2011 World Cup draw

Auckland
Five pool matches, two semi-finals, bronze final and final. Home to All Blacks, Tonga, Australia, Ireland, France, England, Scotland and Oceania qualifier.

Wellington
Five pool matches, two quarterfinals. Home to All Blacks, South Africa, Wales, Fiji, Wallabies, Tonga and qualifiers from the Americas.

Christchurch
Five pool matches, two quarterfinals. Home to Australia, Argentina, England, Italy, Scotland and qualifier from Europe.

North Shore
Three pool matches. Home to France, South Africa and qualifiers from Asia, Africa and Oceania.

Hamilton
Three pool matches. Home to All Blacks, Wales, Fiji and qualifiers from Asia and Oceania.

New Plymouth
Three pool matches. Home to Ireland and Wales and qualifiers from North America and Africa.

Rotorua
Three pool matches. Home to Fiji and Ireland and qualifiers from Africa, Oceania and Europe.

Dunedin
Three pool matches. Home to Scotland, England, Ireland, Italy and qualifiers from Europe.

Whangerei
Two pool matches. Home to Tonga and qualifiers from Asia and South America.

Palmerston North
Two pool matches. Home to Argentina and qualifiers from Europe.

Napier
Two pool matches. Home to France, and qualifiers from South America and Asia.

Nelson
Two pool matches. Home to Italy and qualifiers from Europe and the Americas.

Invercargill
Two pool matches. Home to Scotland, Argentina and qualifying playoff winner.

- NZ HERALD STAFF