Quarter-final clash between England and France is at Eden Park, Auckland on Saturday October 8, 2011.
Based on current form and team selections England should win. However the French ‘je ne sais quoi’ is unidentifiable – the team could be mundane or mind-blowing.
A big anxiety for coach Martin Johnson must be Jonny Wilkinson's kicking after last weekend's match against Scotland.
With Wilkinson no longer guaranteed as first-choice kicker, all week there has been rumour of an Eden Park shoot-out between Wilkinson and Toby Flood, to decide who will take the responsibility against France. Johnson denies any kicking contest between the two.
Fingers crossed that the England team find their mojo.
England/France last three meetings
March 2011: England 17 France 9 (Twickenham)
March 2010: France 12 England 10 (Stade de France)
March 2009: England 34 France 10 (Twickenham)
Final eight
08/10 - 06:00 Ireland v Wales 08/10 - 08:30
England v France
09/10 - 06:00 South Africa v Australia 09/10 - 08:30 New Zealand v Argentina
This comment from
The Australian newspaper sums up the mood of New Zealand: "As for the All Blacks and Argentina, if they don't win this match New Zealand may not be at the next World Cup for reasons other than funding issues."
Christian Harper,
OliverFinn
