KEY POINTS:
The All Blacks will need to pack both their sunscreen and their evening wear for this year's rugby World Cup.
Three of New Zealand's four pool games involve early afternoon kickoffs while the other, possibly their toughest against Scotland in Edinburgh, is a 4pm kickoff. However, from the quarter-finals onwards they will probably be involved in three consecutive 9pm kickoffs.
The early starts - against Italy in Marseille on September 8 (1.45pm), a repechage qualifier in Lyon on September 15 (1pm) and Romania in Toulouse on September 29 (1pm) - could be played in hot conditions.
It is traditionally very warm in central/southern France throughout September.
Temperatures are likely to drop for the Edinburgh clash and for their probable quarter-final in Cardiff on October 6, which is scheduled to start at 9pm.
Both semifinals and the final in Paris are set down for that same late kickoff.
The good news for New Zealand television viewers is that the All Blacks' three knockout matches will fall at friendly times on Sunday mornings. The opening game, between France and Argentina on September 7 in Paris, will kick off at 9pm.
- NZPA
