O'Sullivan fumes at All Blacks training switch

Ireland were today left raging about a training row which has disrupted their preparations for Sunday's quarter-final with France.

Coach Eddie O'Sullivan is furious with World Cup organisers after his team's key training slot at the Telstra Dome in Melbourne today was given to New Zealand and a rescheduled session was half an hour shorter than promised.

Following a row with RWC officials, O'Sullivan said: "I'm very annoyed about this. It's frustrating that this should happen so close to the most important game in Irish rugby history."

He said Ireland had been offered the choice of two different training slots at the match venue today but, after choosing one, were "stunned" to discover it had been given to the All Blacks who play against South Africa in the same arena tomorrow. Then their three-hour slot turned into a rearranged two-and-half hour session.

"We had to reschedule our whole programme at 10.30 last night," he said. "It might sound petty but losing half an hour is not ideal before a game like this. I don't know how much time the All Blacks will get but I'm sure they'll get their three hours."

Asked if he felt this smacked of favouritism towards one of the bigger teams, O'Sullivan shrugged: "The Rugby World Cup can answer that better than me."