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

What a disappointment for Georgia. After doing themselves proud in their previous three matches, including their first ever World Cup win against Namibia, they then capitulated spectacularly in the face of a marauding French team in the cauldron of noise that is the Stade Velodrome in Marseille. More

For their part, Argentina has shown both ambition and humility as the Pumas’ level dramatically increased over the past decade. The players stay humble, though their victory over France in the opening game is an historic performance rewarding the long-term work with the Amateurs.  More

The Irish team is ranked 6th in the IRB classifying, but hasn’t shown its best in their first three matches. Before they lost to France, Coach Eddie O'Sullivan already admitted he is at a loss to explain Ireland's lack of form. Things haven’t been better since then.  More

This morning French coach Bernard Laporte explained his decision to name hooker Sébastien Bruno, the only French player to have remained on the bench. “He is slightly behind the other hookers but we ought to give him a chance. He’s starving”. More

Fantastic, the Georgians have finally broken their World Cup duck by bulldozzing their way through Namibia in Lens.

They have been threatening to make this breakthrough, and it is to the credit of the tournament that new nations are picking up the rugby torch and raising thier level. More

Well that just about wraps things up for Ireland. An easy win for the Argentines with the precious bonus point means that the Irish now need to beat the Pumas with the bonus point for four tries or more (bearing in mind that nobody has touched down against them yet) with Argentina at least eight points adrift. More

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

Sébastien Chabal has been announced as part of the starting line-up for France-Ireland. The French management staff preferred him to Lionel Nallet, who scored twice in an effective performance against Namibia. The Caveman also touched down twice in the end zone on Sunday, and he blew away the spectators.

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