World Rugby has defended launching the 2027 World Cup with Australia playing Hong Kong, with the opener looming as a major mismatch between the host nation and the Asian debutants.
Australia kick off the tournament against world number 23 Hong Kong in Perth on 1 October, crushing fans' hopes of a Wallabies showdown with New Zealand, who are in the same pool.
The hosts traditionally launch the quadrennial showpiece, with France taking on the All Blacks in the 2023 edition.
Fans in Australia and New Zealand slammed the scheduling on social media, while Perth-based media said local Wallabies fans had been short-changed.
World Rugby chairman Brett Robinson acknowledged the Australia-Hong Kong matchup was polarising but said the governing body's role was to grow the game.
"Clearly people will have different opinions and the sides will have different opinions, but we've landed where we've landed," Robinson told reporters.
"For me, the pools are this great opportunity where clearly we are going to have teams that are dominating, but we also have teams that are aspiring.
"That's our role as World Rugby, to build and grow our great global game."
Robinson spoke after World Rugby released the fixtures for the biggest-ever tournament.
The expanded 24-team World Cup features 52 matches across 19 match days in seven cities - with a shortened pool stage but a new knockout round of 16.
Both semi-finals and the 13 November final are at Stadium Australia, Sydney.
Ireland will play their pool matches in Sydney, Perth and Melbourne.
Portugal will be Ireland's first Pool D opponents on Monday 4 October with the game taking place at the Sydney Football Stadium at 7.15am Irish time (5.15pm local).
Ireland, who have never qualified for the semi-finals of the tournament in 10 attempts, take on Scotland in their second group tie with a 10.45am Irish time kick-off (5.45pm local) in Perth Stadium on Sunday 10 October.
Docklands Stadium in Melbourne hosts Ireland's final pool game against Uruguay on Sunday 17 October with a start time of 4.45am Irish (2.45pm local).
