Argentina have claimed the final spot in the last-four, the first time they've reached that stage of the competition, at the expense of Scotland, after getting the better of a strangely limp encounter at the Stade de France.

Was the game really that dull?  More

So, the quarter-final line-ups are now complete. Argentina finish top of Pool D after yet another beautifully controlled piece of rugby, France face the mighty All Blacks at the Millenium Stadium in Cardiff, while Ireland join Wales on the early flight home. More

I had been looking forward to this match since the tournament started, with both teams commited to an attacking running game, and I wasn't disappointed.

Actually I was disappointed, but only because my team lost.

Apart from that it was a pulsating affair, in which we saw everything good you could wish to see in a rugby match. More

It looks like England are starting to find their feet in this tournament, after what was, in the end, a fine win over a spirited Tongan side.

This was the ultimate pressure situation for the defending champions, facing a win or bust match against a team that were fresh from almost beating the same squad that demolished England earlier in the group phase. More

After all that England are still in the tournament, despite being hard pushed in the face of some uncompromising Samoan tackling.

France have finally made a real impact on this World Cup, after dismantling a desperately poor Irish side at the Stade de France. More

Well that was a welcome breath of fresh air. Thus far, this tournament has been relatively bereft of free-flowing, running rugby. That changed tonight with both Wales and Japan playing the beautiful game, treating the crowd at the Millenium Stadium to some wonderful tries. More

Scotland made light work of the inhispitable Edinburgh weather, and their opponents as they cruised to a bonus point win against Pool C foes Romania.

In doing so they inflicted just the fifth shutout in World Cup history. Of course, the fourth came just last week as World Champions England were humbled by South Africa. More

Coach Eddie O'Sullivan admitted he is at a loss to explain Ireland's lack of form ahead of Friday's all-important Pool D clash with France. The winners of the 2007 Triple Crown made hard work of their opening matches against modest World Cup entries Namibia (32-17) and Georgia (14-10). More

So how did the Irish come away from that match against Georgia with four points? I'm really not sure!

The men from the Emerald Isle spent huge periods of the game on the back foot, stymied by a mixture of handling errors, poor kicking, and a level of desicion making that should have been left far behind when they graduated to long trousers. More