Top-tier rugby nations won't play all of their 2015 World Cup pool matches on weekends in order to give smaller nations a more balanced programme the International Rugby Board has decided.
Second-tier nations have been forced into a condensed schedule at previous World Cup tournaments.
But IRB chief executive Brett Gosper says the schedule for the next tournament in England and Wales, which will be released later this month or early next, will be far more equal.
Japan were required to play all four of their pool games at the 2011 World Cup in 17 days while the All Black hosts and beaten finalists France, both in the same pool, had a week between their pool games games.
The New Zealand Rugby Union chief executive Steve Tew says they fully support the change as the top-tier nations had requested a more equitable draw.