2011: 'Well done, New Zealand'
Brad Morgan
18 November 2005
South Africa and Japan were expecting to fight it out for the right to host the 2011 Rugby World Cup, but the International Rugby Board saw things differently. SA bid chief Francois Pienaar felt his team couldn't have improved on the job they did, but congratulated the winner: New Zealand.
It wasn't a good night for the South African bid team in Dublin, Ireland on Thursday. South Africa was eliminated in the first round of voting, with New Zealand going on to top Japan in the second round.
It will be the first time the Kiwis host the World Cup since the inaugural tournament in 1987; South Africa was hoping to host the event for the second time since 1995, when the Springboks won the World Cup under captain Francois Pienaar.
Kiwis surprised
In New Zealand, even die-hard rugby supporters were not that confident that the Land of the Long White Cloud would be chosen to host rugby's 2011 showpiece.
SA
bid chief Francois Pienaar felt his team couldn't have improved on the job they did. "Yes, it is obviously a big disappointment," he said. "But congratulations to New Zealand."
Springbok team manager Arthob Petersen echoed Pienaar, saying South Africa had put forward a compelling case, "but congratulations to New Zealand."
Peterson was in Dublin along with the Springbok side, which had flown in for the announcement two days ahead of their test against Wales in Cardiff on Saturday.
NZ promises a world-class show
New Zealand has promised a world class event. New Zealand Rugby Union (NZRU) chairman, former All Black flanker Jock Hobbs, says the event will be first-rate on all levels - for players, spectators and officials.
NZRU CEO Chris Moller said that one of New Zealand's selling points was that the World Cup would be hosted by the entire nation of four million people. He said the country's combination of passionate fans and
traditional warm hospitality were part of the winning recipe.
Once South Africa was eliminated, the country got behind New Zealand. Moller applauded SA's integrity in sticking with a fellow Sanzar member. He said SA Rugby Union President had committed South Africa's support to the Kiwis at a Sanzar meeting earlier in the week.
"New Zealand is a great rugby nation," said International Rugby Board chairman Syd Millar.
"We received three excellent tenders of the highest quality. Any one of the three could have hosted a successful tournament."
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