Argentina spills the beans on 2011

What were the Pumas promised?

Minutes from a recent Argentina Rugby Union (UAR) committee meeting reveal that New Zealand won the rights to host the 2011 Rugby World Cup by a single vote - and that Argentina, who voted for South Africa in the first round, switched its support to New Zealand in the hope of future favours.

The minutes also states that the UAR had pledged their initial vote to the South African bid after South Africa had agreed to support Argentina's drive to "be included in permanent competition with the teams of the southern hemispheres in the tournaments that they regularly organise within in the next few years".

But South Africa was eliminated after the first round of voting, leaving the UAR free to transfer their vote to either Japan or New Zealand.

Argentina's vote then went the way of New Zealand after a telephone call between the UAR's president-elect, Alejandro Risler, and Jock Hobbs, president of the New Zealand Rugby Union [NZRU].

The minutes read: "Before the [final] voting process, [Risler] telephoned the president of the NZRU, Jock Hobbs, to tell him that Argentina would vote for New Zealand and not Japan and that the UAR needed to meet with them to discuss the possibility of having regular international competition in the southern hemisphere in the nearest future, having already obtained South African approval for Argentina's inclusion."

Although it was not made clear whether Hobbs agreed to Argentina's proposal, the minutes state that a meeting between UAR representatives and the NZRU will take place in New Zealand during the Wellington leg of IRB Sevens (February 3/4).

Argentina legend Hugo Porta, who was recently appointed as the UAR's president of international relations, will be present at the meeting and the minutes note that he would "be seeking clarification as to the conversations that took place between [the UAR] and the presidents of New Zealand and South Africa [Brian van Rooyen]."

The revelations could embarrass the International Rugby Board (which had decreed that details of the voting process would remain confidential) and the unions of both South Africa and New Zealand who will now feel the pressure to deliver on any promises they might have made whilst canvassing for votes.

But NZRFU boss Chris Moller Moller has described the claims as "absolutely incorrect" in an interview with NZPA.

He reportedly said: "We have been accused of promising a match to Ireland to the opening of Lansdowne Road. I have refuted that as being absolutely incorrect and furthermore said that it doesn't apply to any country because we at no stage discussed additional games in respect to Rugby World Cup 2011.

"In respect to Argentina specifically, we are scheduled to play Argentina in Argentina in the June window. That match has been in the IRB tour schedule for about five years."

Moller went on to say: "From what they've said it appears they voted for us and we're very appreciative of that.

"And it is true that Alejandro Risler and Jock Hobbs did have a telephone discussion and it is true that we agreed, as we're going to have a meeting at around the Sevens.

"At no stage however has there been any promise by New Zealand, and indeed New Zealand can't make such promises because SANZAR matters are matters for all three countries [NZ, Australia and South Africa]."

Whilst "absolutely incorrect" seems a bit of an exaggeration, what is clear from all of this is that the voting process was not transparent at all and that leaks in dribs and drabs does nothing for the credibility of the process.