The stadium earmarked to host pool matches and quarterfinals in the tournament starting in 185 days has structural damage to at least two stands, and "significant" liquefaction damage to the playing surface, which Prime Minister John Key said could take months to address.
Mr Key said the decision over Christchurch's hosting rights ultimately lay with the International Rugby Board, but he said if the stadium could be repaired in time, other pressing issues could be dealt with.
"Yes, we need to deal with accommodation issues and we need to deal with bars and restaurants and the like I think we can address those issues.
But we can't do that unless we have a stadium that gets the tick off," he said.
"We won't have a clear answer for a couple of weeks, but we are getting closer."
Vbase, which manages the stadium, said it planned to release fresh information on the state of the stadium later this week or early next.
"It's important to do the detailed work, so we are dealing with facts rather than speculation," Vbase chief executive Bryan Pearson said.
An initial assessment of the stadium after the quake had revealed repairable structural damage, and liquefaction affecting the stadium inside and out.
"What the implications are of that, we don't know," Mr Pearson said.
Mr Key said he was aware of damage to the Hadlee and Deans Stands in the stadium, and the liquefaction damage to the playing surface "which means it needs to be rebuilt".
"And that takes quite a number of months."
Rugby World Cup Limited said at the weekend it would be inappropriate to speculate or comment until an "extensive review and assessment" was completed.
This could take several weeks, it said.
Rugby New Zealand 2011 Ltd spokesman Mike Jaspers said it had to wait to see what shape Christchurch was in.
Asked if contingency plans were being prepared in case Christchurch was not able to host the tournament matches, Mr Jaspers said he would not be drawn on that.
A spokesman for Rugby World Cup Minister Murray McCully said he did not believe any contingency planning was under way yet.
