RUGBY WORLD CUP QUARTER-FINALS (PREFIX DENOTES RANKING):
SATURDAY, OCT 19
3-ENGLAND V 6-AUSTRALIA in Oita
The men in white are two from two in quarter-finals against the Wallabies. More pertinently, they’ve reigned supreme in their last six Test meetings and will be hard to halt unless Michael Cheika’s men can conjure 80 minutes of clinical rugby. It’s been too patchy in pool play.
Key: Australia have a week to unearth some authority from their halves. England have that in spades and it shapes as a major point of difference.
1-NZ V 4-IRELAND in Tokyo
Their only World Cup meeting was a Jonah Lomu exhibition in 1995 pool play at Ellis Park. Ireland have lost all six of the quarter-finals they’ve reached while the All Blacks have stumbled only once in eight visits. However, after 111 years of failing to beat New Zealand, the Irish have done it in two of their last three Tests.
Key: The Irish pack at their best can be ruthless. Something special up front could deprive the star-studded Kiwi backs of quick-ball oxygen.
SUNDAY, OCT 20
2-WALES v 8-FRANCE in Oita
It’s typically about now Les Bleus awake from their World Cup slumber, or in-fighting. Six from eight at the quarter-finals stage compares favourably with Wales’ one from four. The Welsh will still be haunted by their only knockout phase match against France, when pipped 9-8 in an Eden Park semi-final eight years ago.
Key: The young French side must unlock some joie de vivre. They average less than 12 points per match against the unforgiving Welsh defence in their last nine meetings.
7-JAPAN v 5-SOUTH AFRICA in Tokyo
What more do the brave blossoms have to give? After riding a national tide of sentiment to reach the last eight for the first time, they run smack into a Springboks team who won’t have forgotten the humbling result in Brighton four years ago. Kenki Fukuoka against Cheslin Kolbe is an under-sized wing duel to watch.
Key: The hosts hang their hat on speed and energy. Expect the gigantic Boks to try to twist the contest into a battle of muscle.