seeing the games here.'' Snedden expected the new facility to this month become the RWC official tournament venue, replacing Carisbrook. Lapasset believed playing at the Forsyth Barr Stadium would be a big event for Dunedin pool teams. The facility was an important and unique venue for the cup. He praised the ground's covered facilities, location, and lighting. He was impressed with the newly-sewn pitch and the never-before-used turf technology.

"It's very, very exciting,'' he said. He gave the Dunedin facility a high ranking among the New Zealand RWC venues which, he said, all exhibited a high level of quality commitment to the tournament. "I am more and more convinced New Zealand is the true home of the Rugby World Cup. But this [the Forsyth Barr Stadium] will be aunique place in the Rugby World Cup,'' he said.

Rugby fans from around the world will find out on Monday whether they have secured tickets to the semi-finals and final of the Rugby World Cup in the third phase of the ticket balloting system. The ballots were open to those fans who applied for tickets during the first two phases of RWC 2011 ticketing and who elected to enter into the ballots. Applicants received one entry into each ballot they elected to enter into for each ticket they applied for. There are 15,000 match tickets available in each of the three ballots. Because each offer will consist of an opportunity to purchase two tickets, a total of around 7,500 offers will be issued for each match.

Applications were received from