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PARIS - New Zealand officials are still none the wiser about whether the 2011 Rugby World Cup they will host will be cut to 16 teams from 20, according to the tournament's chief executive Martin Snedden.
The International Rugby Board (IRB) had proposed culling four of the weaker teams from the next event to make it more competitive but are having second thoughts after the improved performances of so-called "minnows" at this year's tournament.
New Zealand are in favour of cutting back to 16 teams but Snedden said they were happy to stick with 20 if the IRB wanted to maintain the status quo.
"My preference is for 16 provided there is a more competitive format and provided there is an upgraded qualifying series in place," Snedden told reporters at a promotional launch near the Eiffel Tower.
"But I'm also saying quite clearly that we will happily live with whichever option is chosen by the IRB council, we will make it work either way.
"It is not our decision, we were asked for our opinion, we gave our opinion, but it's up to the people who make those decisions to determine what is right."
The IRB had originally planned to make their decision about the number of teams during this World Cup but have postponed it until November after better-than-expected performances from some of the smaller nations.
While tournament favourites New Zealand and Australia were knocked out in the quarterfinals, Argentina made it through to the semifinals for the first time and Fiji upset Wales to make the quarters and Snedden said the decision was still in the air.
"One of the features of this tournament is that it has certainly displayed the very positive features of having 20 teams so I don't think the issue is clear cut at all," Snedden said.
"I think it's going to take a fair bit of reflection and discussion to work out what the end result will be.
"There are still a large number of games that are one-sided where the result is very predictable.
"You can also get situations, as happened in the pools here, where leading teams go through with a series of easy games and suddenly find themselves in a sudden-death situation without having had enough hard rugby going into that."
If the 2011 tournament is cut to 16 teams, Snedden wants to change the competition format so there is no major reduction in the number of games but would not reveal his preferred option.
He also believes the qualifying format should be changed so that the minor nations get to play in a quality tournament to prepare themselves for the World Cup.
"If you go in that direction you have to ensure that the smaller nations are looked after by an upgraded qualifying situation," he said.
"You can't just say we're going to put a minnow into the World Cup and say that's their development. You have to look at the overall structure of how you bring teams through and that's what's going to happen.
"But it's not a decision that we have any control over, this is an IRB council decision, this is something that will be voted on by the council which has representatives from a whole range of rugby stakeholders.
"It's not about finances or logistics .... it's solely a rugby issue, it's about how you can make the most competitive tournament possible."
- REUTERS
