21:00 local, 08:00 GMT
23 th Oct 2011 - World Cup Rugby 2011
Venue: Auckland
New Zealand's nightmare scenario became a reality last Sunday morning when All Blacks coach Graham Henry and team doctor Deb Robinson solemnly sat down before the assembled media to deliver the news that an entire nation had been dreading: Dan Carter's Rugby World Cup was over.
As soon as pictures began to emerge of the All Blacks playmaker lying in a crumpled heap after suffering a groin tear in training on the eve of their final pool game against Canada, it was clear that Carter's tournament was in jeopardy. However, while the confirmation did not come as a surprise, it did not lessen its impact.
Defending champions South Africa tackle Tri-Nations title holders Australia at the Wellington Regional Stadium on Sunday in arguably the pick of the Rugby World Cup quarter-finals.
A meeting between the Springboks and the Wallabies in the last eight has come as huge surprise - but a most a welcome one for the neutrals. And indeed those affiliated with countries from the northern hemisphere. It's fair to say, though, that neither the Springboks nor the Wallabies are too enamoured by the timing of this southern hemisphere showdown.
The Aussies are to blame, of course, after suffering a shock defeat by Ireland in the pool stages. They bounced back with predictably comfortable wins over USA and Russia but were still forced to settle for second place in their group behind the Irish, who despatched Italy in impressive fashion in their crunch clash in Dunedin last weekend.
Many neutrals are split over this weekend's Rugby World Cup quarter final clash between England and France - and it's not really over who they would like to win, but rather a case of who they want to lose more. Indeed, it would be something of an understatement to say that neither England nor France have exactly endeared themselves to the purists or the locals since arriving in New Zealand last month. And that has as much to do with their respective performances off the field as much as on it.
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