Confusion over training times has left Ireland coach Eddie O'Sullivan fuming after his team's practice session at the Telstra Dome in Melbourne today was re-scheduled and shortened.
Ireland were originally scheduled to train from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. at the venue for Sunday's quarter-final against France, but then altered that plan to start at 10 a.m. - a move within the World Cup rules.
However, by then New Zealand had been given the vacant 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. slot, which led to frantic phone calls to organise who would train when. The result was a compromise, with Ireland starting at 9.30 a.m. and New Zealand at 12 noon, but O'Sullivan was unimpressed.
"We had a bit of a row over it last night," he said, admitting he was "annoyed" at the situation. "We eventually got into Telstra Dome when we were told we had to go this morning at 9.30 and get out of it by 12, so we've only had two and a half hours, which hasn't helped our preparation.
"I had to cut back on the team run and the kickers had to cut back to two-and-a-half hours. We had to reschedule our whole programme at half-past-10 last night. It's not the ideal preparation for a quarter-final.
"It's a bit frustrating when here we are on the eve of a World Cup quarter-final, which is probably the most important game in Irish rugby history if we win. I am very annoyed about to it, to be quite frank."
However, Rugby World Cup press officer Chris Rea was unimpressed with O'Sullivan trying to shunt the blame onto the tournament organisers, saying the clash was created by the late decision of Ireland to take the earlier time slot.
"I'm not too happy that Eddie O'Sullivan is blaming Rugby World Cup for something which has come about because of Ireland's decisions," Rae said. "We've moved heaven and earth to get them in for when they want."
Rae also praised New Zealand for agreeing to move their training session back by two hours to accommodate the change, describing the reaction as being "incredibly generous" in working out the compromise.
New Zealand press officer Matt McIlraith said the problem had not been a major one for the All Blacks. "It wasn't a big deal for us, we just started a bit later and they started earlier," said McIlraith.