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Sun 2 Oct 2011 | 02:09
Rugby World Cup Daily - Quarter Finals confirmed

5
Comments

That's it, all the pool games of the Rugby World Cup are over, and we now know who will play in the next round, the Quarter Finals. It's an all north affair on one side, and a preview to next years Four Nations on the other. Elsewhere, New Zealand is in shock at the loss of Dan Carter.

As speculated yesterday, Carter is now officially out of the World Cup. He suffered a groin tear during training ahead of the New Zealand match against Canada, and will take no further part in the tournament. Colin Slade will step up into the key role, with Piri Weepu and young Aaron Cruden providing cover.

Some may say that the big game experience of Nick Evans or Luke McAlister may have been a safer bet than Cruden, but both are off the radar and getting on with life in England and France respectively.

Carter is arguably the most complete flyhalf of a generation and while Slade is wonderfully talented and will slot into the system well, without Carter's experience and composure, the All Blacks look just a little more beatable now. They had no trouble with Canada though, winning 79-15, and will face Argentina in the quarter finals on Sunday.

Argentina themselves got through unscathed against Georgia with a 25-7 win in Palmerston North.

Wales beat Fiji 66-0 in a rout, with young winger George North showing his class, and Jamie Roberts scoring twice. They head into their quarter final with Ireland next weekend in good spirits.

Italy had hoped for a win to shake things up, but Ireland were too strong as they came away with a convincing 36-6 victory. Ireland top their group and will look forward to the meeting with Wales.

The Quarter finals layout is as follows:

Saturday 8th October
Ireland vs Wales - Wellington
England vs France - Auckland
Sunday 9th October
South Africa vs Australia - Wellington
New Zealand vs Argentina - Auckland

Official highlights of today's matches can be found on the RWC website

Posted By: Grant Constable

5 Comments

  • lnd
    3:20 PM 03/10/2011

    Feel sorry for Dan also but with or without him NZ have to produce 3 big performances before they "lift that trophy".

  • kidblue
    12:13 PM 03/10/2011

    this injury could not have happened to a more 'undeserving' man. feel for you dan you deserved more than anyone to lift that trophy

  • colombes
    10:36 PM 02/10/2011

    so it will be a SH vs NH contest.
    I think the top 8 world teams are here but with the same dynamic:

    New Zealand are the huge favorites, but how will they do without carter? Weepu..
    Argentina will be soldiers but i think they will lack fitness
    Boks is the team "in form" but sometimes bulldozers without invention
    Australia is the big mystery, if their scrum is as good as their backs, why not
    Wales is the best surprise of the 1/4, but they could lack experience at top level
    Ireland is the most coherent team, good everywhere, but they arent always lethal
    France are the most deceptive team but they can wake up and beat everyone
    England is England. Boring and mathematic but always here despite all the critics

    hard to find favorites but i bet on NZ/Australia and France/Ireland in the semi's

  • reality
    5:40 PM 02/10/2011

    I feel terrible for Carter. I mean on the one hand it'll make the competition a bit less one-sided, but he's really a great player and a credit to the sport, and I feel awful that he'll miss his big chance now to prove himself to the world (not that he needs to prove anything).

    Ireland and Wales are both looking pretty good. I think whoever wins that match will get to the final, and then who knows? France are just a mess, and would the English team ever just stop doing stupid stuff off the pitch? Suspensions, ex-girlfriends in nightclubs, sneaky, pre-meditated ball-switching, and now abusing hotel staff? They're ruining the spirit of the tournament.

    Also, I feel terrible for Italy. They really always play with their hearts on their sleeves, and the way a lot of the players were crying after the game shows how much the quarter-final would have meant to them. Hopefully they'll make it next time.

  • d0m3
    5:26 PM 02/10/2011

    Best NH vs best SH final :)

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