Nehe Milner-Skudder will start at the right wing, after scoring two tries against Tonga. Photo / Getty Images
Nehe Milner-Skudder will start at the right wing, after scoring two tries against Tonga. Photo / Getty Images
As the Rugby World Cup 2015 quarter-finals rapidly approaches, we've gathered up all the vital information you need to know before settling in to cheer on the All Blacks.
All Blacks v France
Millennium Stadium, Sunday 8am
This will be the All Blacks sixth clash with France at a World Cup, matching England and Australia for most meetings at the tournament. Their last meeting was of course the 2007 final, an 8-7 win for the All Blacks.
This will be the fifth straight World Cup meeting between the two sides. France have beaten the All Blacks twice at a World Cup (1999 and 2007). No side has defeated the All Blacks three times at a World Cup. The All Blacks and France have met 55 times since 1906, with New Zealand winning 42 and just one draw.
Sky TV and Prime will be screening the quarter-final live to air, with coverage starting at 7:30am on Sunday.
Who's playing:
Richie McCaw is back in action in the No 7 jersey, after being ruled out of the Tonga pool match due to a thigh problem. Nehe Milner-Skudder and Julian Savea start on the wings, with the partnership of Ma'a Nonu and Conrad Smith in the midfield.
On the French side, centre Mathieu Bastareaud has been dropped for Alexandre Dumoulin and Bernard Le Roux takes the place of Damien Chouly as open-side flanker.
All Blacks: Ben Smith, Nehe Milner-Skudder, Conrad Smith, Ma'a Nonu, Julian Savea, Dan Carter, Aaron Smith, Kieran Read, Richie McCaw (c), Jerome Kaino, Sam Whitelock, Brodie Retallick, Owen Franks, Dane Coles, Wyatt Crockett.
Reserves: Keven Mealamu, Joe Moody, Charlie Faumuina, Victor Vito, Sam Cane, Tawera Kerr-Barlow, Beauden Barrett, Sonny Bill Williams.
France: Scott Spedding; Noa Nakaitaci, Alexandre Dumoulin, Wesley Fofana, Brice Dulin; Frederic Michalak, Morgan Parra; Eddy Ben Arous, Guilhem Guirado, Rabah Slimani, Pascal Pape, Yoann Maestri, Thierry Dusautoir (capt), Bernard Le Roux, Louis Picamoles.
Reserves: Dimitri Szarzewski, Vincent Debaty, Nicolas Mas, Damien Chouly, Yannick Nyanga, Rory Kockott, Remi Tales, Mathieu Bastareaud.
Odds:
The TAB has the odds in the All Blacks favour, with a win for New Zealand paying out at $1.65 and a win for France at $4.75.
South Africa v Wales
Twickenham, Sunday 4am
This is just the second meeting between the two at a World Cup, the first being during pool play four years ago at Wellington Stadium. The match had controversy as the 'Boks won 17-16 but video replays showed a crucial conversion attempt by James Hook went over the top of the right-hand upright. Was it a successful kick or not? History books say no.
The two sides have faced off 30 times with South Africa winning 27 along with one draw.
Tyler Morgan of Wales will start in midfield alongside Jamie Roberts. Photo / Getty Images
Wales head coach Warren Gatland has made three changes to his team for the quarter-final. Centre Tyler Morgan will start in midfield alongside Jamie Roberts, with prop Gathin Jenkins in place of Paul James. Flanker Dan Lydiate features in the back row.
JP Pietersen returns to the Springboks line-up - the only change to the starting team.
They're both highly physical sides and the Boks have recovered from their shock defeat by Japan by channeling this physicality.
Wayne Barnes referees the match.
South Africa: Willie le Roux, JP Pietersen, Jesse Kriel, Damian de Allende, Bryan Habana, 10 Handre Pollard, Fourie du Preez (c), Duane Vermeulen, Schalk Burger, Francois Louw, Lood de Jager, Eben Etzebeth, Frans Malherbe, Bismarck du Plessis, Tendai Mtawarira.
Reserves: Adriaan Strauss, Trevor Nyakane, Jannie du Plessis, Pieter-Steph du Toit, Willem Alberts, Ruan Pienaar, Pat Lambie, Jan Serfontein.
Odds:
The TAB are paying out $1.27 for a South African win, with $3.50 for the Welsh side.
Ireland v Argentina
Twickenham, Monday 1am
The history between these two teams shows an even contest. They've met 20 times since 1952, with Ireland winning 12.
The two sides have faced off three times at the tournament, the last being a 2007 pool match won 30-15 by Argentina which eliminated Ireland from the tournament. Four years earlier Ireland eliminated Argentina with a 16-15 pool play win. The only actual knockout game between the two came in a 1999 quarter-final playoff, won 28-24 by Argentina in Lens.
Prime and Sky are screening the match live, with coverage starting at 12:45am.
Who's playing:
Ireland captain Paul O'Connell should rejoin the squad in time for the quarter-final, following a hamstring injury. Photo / Getty Images
While the line-ups are yet to be announced, Ireland's team manager Mick Kearney has said captain Paul O'Connell should rejoin the squad in time for the quarter-final, following surgery for a hamstring injury. Ireland's victory against France came at a cost to the squad, with significant injuries to Jonathan Sexton and Peter O'Mahony, as well as O'Connell.
Irish flanker Sean O'Brien has also been ruled out of the quarter-final, after he was banned for a week for striking France lock Pascal Pape in the first minutes of the game. French ref Jermone Garces will take charge at the showdown.
The TAB has Ireland as the favourite, paying out at $1.52, while an Argentina win pays out at $2.40.
Australia v Scotland
Twickenham, Monday 4am
Their only World Cup clash came in the same stage in 2003, a 33-16 victory for the Wallabies in Brisbane. In all internationals since 1927, Australia have won 19 of the 28 fixtures. While Scotland have won two of their last three tests against Australia, they'd lost the previous 16.
How to watch:
Sky will be screening the match live, starting at 3:45am. Prime are showing delayed coverage from 5:30am.
Squads have yet to be announced, but Scotland will have to make do without forwards Ross Ford and Jonny Gray, who were controversially banned for three weeks - described by former Scotland star Kenny Logan as "a sick joke".
Odds:
The odds are largely favouring Australia to win, with the TAB paying out $1.09 for the Wallabies, while a Scottish win pays out at $6.50.
South Africa's Craig Joubert will referee the match - he recently sent two Wallabies and Welsh player to the sinbin last Saturday.
