IRB Chairman Bernard Lapasset faces a battle to keep his job at today’s International Rugby Board meeting in Auckland.

Lapasset is being challenged by England’s Bill Beaumont who is being supported by New Zealand and Australia.

Beaumont is promising to reform the IRB’s commercial model, something New Zealand and Australia are hot on.

Rugby’s minnow nations are likely to play a key role in deciding which candidate will win at the elections.

The eight foundation member unions including New Zealand, South Africa and Australia get two votes each however the SANZAR votes are likely to be split with South African president Oregan Hoskins standing to be Lapasset’s deputy.

It will be the single votes of smaller unions like Argentina, Canada and Japan who will likely decide the outcome.

Meanwhile, the All Blacks will play France on Sunday at 9pm in the RWC final and you can catch the live commentary on our sister station Viti-FM with Malakai Veisamasama and Ilivasi Tabua.

At 7.30pm Friday, the Wallabies play Wales in the bronze playoff.

Story by: Dhanjay Deo