As a payoff for losing its bid to host any Rugby World Cup matches, event organisers ensured Queenstown got to host two of the biggest teams next year, RWC 2011 chief executive Martin Snedden said.
In Queenstown this week, Mr Snedden said there were several reasons Queenstown lost its bid to host a game, but it was "desperately close" to succeeding.
"The bid [put in] was collectively from Otago and Southland.
"We desperately wanted to get a number of games down this way, but we couldn't ... because of the one-off cost.
"If we were going to send a game here, we had to send two games."
Mr Snedden said going against Queenstown was the venue capacity at the Queenstown Events Centre which was "reasonably small"; the infrastructure which needed to be brought in to hold the matches and the risk of giving Queenstown a match to the detriment of Invercargill.
"Queenstown, we knew, was going to host a hell of a lot of visitors, anyway ... we had to try and share the thing.
"At the end, it just felt the way it should be.
"I know it was disappointing for this area ... but we couldn't satisfy everyone's needs."
The organisers had 16 potential venues, of which 13 were successful.
Queenstown, Tauranga and Mt Smart stadium, in Auckland, were the three unsuccessful venues.
"Mt Smart disappeared off the radar, but Queenstown and Tauranga were desperately close.
"Then, we made sure you get two of the biggest teams to come here," he said.
Ireland would be based in the resort from September 2 until September 7 and England for three nights, from September 19 to 21.
A qualifier, to be decided by November - would be staying for four nights, from September 11 to 14.
With matches in so many venues - in 1995 South Africa held the RWC in eight venues - Mr Snedden said the organisers weighed up the "logistical nightmare" against the emotions of those chosen to host games.
"The IRB's view was eight or nine [venues would be sufficient]."
The organisers had battled hard to use as many venues as they could, he said.
"It will pull together.
"People get caught up in it and make sure it works."
