Kirwan says 2011 World Cup should have gone to Japan

All Blacks great John Kirwan won't be a popular man among the ranks of NZRU officials this week.

The former winger has told a British newspaper that the decision to award the 2011 Rugby World Cup to New Zealand was "wrong" and the tournament should have gone to Japan. 

Kirwan also believes the expansion to a Super 14 should have included Argentina in a bid to build rugby as a world game.

In a wide-ranging interview with London newspaper The Observer, Kirwan, scorer of 35 test tries for the All Blacks, said rugby needed to become more global.

"The game not coming to Japan was wrong. Although that decision's been made, it's really important the world cup in 2015 goes there."

Kirwan, former coach of Italy's national rugby side and a former Warriors league player, told the newspaper that rugby needed to grow.

"We don't want to end up with a game like rugby league, which I love and I played -- my family's a rugby league family -- but it's only played in three nations.

"I couldn't believe that the new Super 14 didn't include Argentine sides.

"How many top sides do Argentina have to beat before they prove they're a good rugby nation? I'd like to know what the global strategy is for the growth of this game."

Kirwan also called for Italy's club teams to be allowed into the Celtic League.

"They need week-in, week-out competition," he said.

"In Italy there are only two or three top sides out of the 10 that are playing and it's not good enough."

As a player, Kirwan plied his trade in New Zealand, Italy and Japan, and still acts as a consultant to Japanese club NEC Green Rockets, where he used to play.

He was philosophical about his axing as Italy coach in April 2005.

"The Italians as a nation are impatient," he said.

" They want to win. And when we didn't, I paid the consequences. I was pleased with how the team progressed and disappointed I couldn't finish what I'd started.

"But there are two types of coach, aren't there? Those that have been sacked and those waiting to be."

- NZPA