The Rugby World Cup quarter finals brought viewers from all over the globe to watch the competition in France after five weeks of little real interest in the pool stages. The games did not disappoint as victors New Zealand, Argentina, England and South Africa all made it through to the semi-final.
Fans will once again tune in to the southern hemisphere dominated tournament to discover who will compete for the Web Ellis trophy as three of the four look to win it once again.
New Zealand v Argentina
The All Blacks overcame the favourites Ireland in Paris on Saturday night, withstanding a 37-phase attack by the Irish to once again reach a World Cup semi-final, denying the Irish of their first ever appearance at that stage.
New Zealand enter the tournament with a number of questions looming over their ability to win the competition, with these questions being further compounded when they were defeated in the opening fixture to France.
However, the Kiwi’s have stood up and answered the questions and are now deemed second favourites for the tournament.
Argentina enter the semi-final stage once again having beat Wales in the first of the four quarter finals, but they have never made the final. In order to achieve this momentous piece of potential history Los Pumas must overcome New Zealand, something they have only ever done twice.
The South American nation are the only side that can lift the trophy for the first time, but they will be hopeful they can defy all odds like the national football team and win the Web Ellis trophy.
England v South Africa
The English overcame a testing affair with Fiji to make it to this stage once again. England are the only northern hemisphere side left in the competition.
The Fijians exposed the fragility that is existent in this English side, something that will need to be addressed in preparation for the favourites of the World Cup.
England will be wary of the last time they played South Africa in the World Cup, a humiliating final defeat in which the English never turned up for.
The Springboks defeated the French in the game of the tournament so far, managing to overcome an early setback in the game, demonstrating the sheer quality and brilliance possessed in the team.
Handre Pollard has brought an invincibility to the Rainbow nation as they have solved the only problem they had in the pool stage, the problem of kicking, making it impossible to see how England can defeat this machine of rugby.
South Africa should have too much for the English and set up a final with their old rivals in the final with both vying for their fourth World Cup success.
Brendan McGilligan
Featured Image: Author David RobertsThis file is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic license.
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