2011 Rugby World Cup, New Zealand

The construction of Dunedin's Forsyth Barr Stadium, to be known during the tournament as Otago Stadium, was a source of concern as the project was operating within a tight time frame. An April 2010 progress report stated that the project remained on target for completion prior to the Rugby World Cup, although there was a medium level of risk with some significant and potentially damaging concerns. If the project had not been completed on time, organisers would have reverted to Carisbrook as the backup option. Forsyth Barr Stadium was officially opened on 6 August 2011.
Damage caused by the 2011 Christchurch earthquake forced the relocation of a number of cup matches, including the quarter finals.
• Warm-up matches
The 2011 Tri Nations Series was shortened to include only six games instead of the usual nine. It served as the primary preparation for the tournament for Australia, South Africa and New Zealand. In the northern hemisphere, a series of friendlies played in August 2011 replaced the annual tours to the southern hemisphere. North American entrants Canada beat USA in two warm-up friendlies in August 2011.