Odds are stacked against minnows

THE International Rugby Board (IRB) has admitted the World Cup draw was unfairly stacked against poorer countries so tournament organisers could maximise their profits.

IRB chairman Syd Millar accepted yesterday that the richer nations were given more time to play their games because of commercial arrangements with broadcasters.

"Yes (it's unfair), but that's the way it is," Millar said. "We try to give as much rest as possible and try to look at the travelling arrangements and so on but there's also another factor that we have to generate money for rugby and of course TV requires top matches at certain times and we have to be aware of that."

While all the bigger teams had at least 20 days to play their four pool games, the smaller sides' matches were crammed into a much tighter schedule. Tonga and Italy were made to play their four games in 14 days and Argentina were knocked out before England had even started their third game.

The schedule drew a chorus of complaints from the smaller teams but Millar said there was no guarantee things would be different at the next World Cup in 2007.

"It's nearly impossible to please everyone," he said. "The host-union agreement has been signed but if we felt there was something we could do then I'm sure we could do something but at this point in time it's not our intention."

Millar said the IRB was concerned about the widening gap between the richer and poorer countries and would investigate ways of trying to solve the problems once the tournament finished.

There was not a single upset in any of the 40 pool matches as the sport's traditional powers Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, England, Scotland, Wales, Ireland and France all waltzed into the quarter-finals.

Even worse, some of the best players from the poorer countries pulled out of the tournament for financial reasons so they could play for their professional clubs in Britain.

"We are not saying the tournament is perfect," Millar said. "It's much improved from 1999 and we are pleased with it but we must not repeat the mistakes in 2007 that we made now.

"There have been some problems but in general it's been excellent and we can look forward now to the final stages and the big guys pitched together now."

Meanwhile Ireland's injured duo, Alan Quinlan and Denis Hickie, departed Melbourne's Tullamarine Airport yesterday for the 24-hour flight back home for rehabilitation on their respective injuries.

It will hardly be comfortable flight for the duo; Quinlan's left arm is held up in a sling while Hickie has been lumbering around on crutches since he ruptured his achilles.

Meanwhile, the remainder the Irish squad had an afternoon off-duty following an early morning pool session to help along those aching limbs. Of the remaining players in Australia, everybody is expected to be fit for selection when Eddie O'Sullivan names his side to play France tomorrow.

Victor Costello, the only player not considered for the Australia game, is fully fit, while Malcolm O'Kelly and Kevin Maggs are raring to go despite having to get stitches on head-wounds.

France, will arrive in Melbourne on Friday after they made the decision to stay at their Sydney base until just two days before kick-off.