Huge job ahead to lift the Cup

By WYNNE GRAY

New Zealand's failure to host the World Cup has left the All Blacks with their toughest quarter-final draw in the tournament's history.

They are scheduled to play either the Springboks or England, a prospect which will reduce one of the tournament heavyweights to a spectator role after that November 8 meeting.

New Zealand have been placed in pool D, with games against Wales and three other teams, likely to be Canada, Uruguay and Italy.

That rugged quarter-final draw is a combination of the All Blacks finishing fourth at the last World Cup, New Zealand's failure to comply with conditions to host next year's tournament and England's failure to make the semifinals in 1999.

Seedings for next year's World Cup are in the order teams finished at the last tournament - Australia, France, South Africa, New Zealand, Wales, England, Scotland and Argentina.

The remaining 12 sides will be known later this year.

Had New Zealand remained as a sub-host next year the draw would have been varied to give the All Blacks a more favourable voyage to the semifinals, said Rugby World Cup general manager Matt Carroll.

"In the draft draw, when New Zealand had a semi, their quarter-final was not so tough," he said yesterday.

"However, when it was decided Australia alone would host the tournament, the International Rugby Board said we should go back to a traditional draw."

That meant putting the Wallabies as champions and France as runners-up at opposite ends of the draw, with the Springboks and All Blacks also slotted in on opposite sides of the draw after their third and fourth place finish in 1999.

The consequence was that, if the draw went to schedule and the All Blacks won their pool, they would have a quarter-final against either the Boks or England as runners-up in their section.

That outcome was revealed yesterday as officials from the IRB, RWC Ltd and the Australian Rugby Union, revealed their plans to guests invited to the tournament launch at the Sydney Opera House.

In the previous four World Cups, the All Blacks were fortunate to meet Scotland three times in the quarters with their other match to get into the last four against Canada in 1991.

If the All Blacks make it past their quarter-final hurdle, they are then likely to meet Australia in one semifinal.

The 20-team tournament will run from October 10 to the November 22 final.

The 48-game programme is spread from Townsville in the north, to Launceston in the south and as far west as Perth.

Almost all games will be played at night to deal with the temperatures and the need to satisfy European television demands.

The four quarter-finals are split between Melbourne and Brisbane.

The semifinals, playoff game for third and fourth and the final are all at Stadium Australia in Sydney.

Who New Zealand face in the last eight will be known on October 18 when the Boks and England meet in Perth in what should be the most pivotal game in pool play.

The winner of that game should veer off towards a semifinal with France but the loser will face the All Blacks.

The All Blacks' opening two games will be at Colonial Stadium in Melbourne, the third at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane and the last pool game against Wales at Stadium Australia.

Wales should be the strongest foe and are likely to be guided by former Crusaders coach Steve Hansen. He succeeded former Blues coach Graham Henry, who arrived back in Auckland yesterday.

There was no way of gauging the reaction of All Blacks coach John Mitchell. He was unavailable for comment yesterday, and manager Andrew Martin was given the job.

"It is very much as we expected," he said.

"If it goes as suspected we will have a tough quarter-final but would have had to meet one of the teams somewhere. The reality is to win a World Cup, you have to win all your games."

Italy and Canada would offer physical contests and progressive quality leading into the crucial quarter-final match.

The travel programme is kind to the All Blacks. Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane have big expatriate populations.

Martin, or someone from the All Blacks camp, will go to Australia soon to discuss ideas about whether the team should move for each game or base themselves in one area.

As top seeds, the Wallabies can reach the last four without meeting France, South Africa, New Zealand or England in their bid to win a third crown, a feat which would allow them to be the permanent guardians of the Webb Ellis Cup.

"If somebody has the distinction to win three times then that particular cup would stay with that country," IRB chairman Vernon Pugh confirmed yesterday.