It seemed an odd decision at first but pitting the All Blacks against Tonga in the opening game of the 2011World Cup now makes sense.
Tuesday marks the 18-month countdown to that first match and it will be significant in defining the tournament and promoting the key themes.
The organisers are hoping global audiences will be blown away by the passion and intensity of the respective hakas and that the game will have a distinctly South Pacific flavour.
"We had the choice of positioning France or Tonga in the opening game," says Rugby New Zealand 2011 chief executive Martin Snedden.
"Our desire is to have the first game showcase not only New Zealand but the South Pacific” he told the New Zealand Herald.
"If you can imagine rugby viewers waking up in Europe and switching on to that game, it could have a powerful impact.
The hakas in particular are a 30-second snapshot that say so much about what this tournament represents.
The All Blacks played Tonga in 2003 and it was a great occasion but this time it should have much more impact as the opening game."
As the big day comes nearer, it is apparent the Pacific theme is going to be pushed by the World Cup organisers.
Not only will Tonga take centre stage on the opening night but Maori TV have also been confirmed as the lead free-to-air broadcaster.
It's all about delivering an event that is unmistakably New Zealand and representative of its Pacific influences.
Snedden has pushed the need for New Zealand to be aware of the legacy opportunities that are attached to hosting an event the size of the World Cup.
His mission is to not only organise a successful tournament but to also help New Zealand capitalise on tourism and business opportunities.
The importance of delivering a tournament-defining opening game has become a key focus. The right tone needs to be set on day one.
It's not just about selling the right image of New Zealand and the South Pacific to global audiences.
The quality of rugby has to be a step up from 2007.
The last World Cup provided more drama than expected with Argentina upsetting France in the first game, Fiji beating Wales, and New Zealand and Australia losing in the quarter-finals.
But there wasn't much in the way of spectacle, with too many one-sided pool clashes and semifinals dominated by defences and goal-kickers.
Those who didn't have an emotional investment in the outcome of games were left with little to admire.
Tonga were the exception - they played above expectation and combined brutality with flair to good effect.
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