Both matches live on ITV1
Date/Time (BST) | Venue | |
| Sat 15 Oct 09:00 | WALES v FRANCE | Eden Park, Auckland |
| Sun 16 Oct 09:00 | AUSTRALIA v NEW ZEALAND | Eden Park, Auckland |
ENGLAND returned home today amid acrimony after their disastrous World Cup campaign in New Zealand.
The tour finished as badly as it began with Manu Tuilagi becoming the latest player to find himself in the headlines after being detained by police and fined £3,000 for jumping off a ferry.
Earlier incidents included mystery blondes, dwarf tossing, bungee jumping and players making inappropriate comments to a female hotel worker. The BBC has even compiled a catalogue of the misdemeanours here.
It would not have been so bad if the off-field antics had been accompanied by a decent performance level on the field but there was a lack of discipline during the matches as well.
Nevertheless, Martin Johnson's men had at least won all four of their Pool matches while their opponents, France, had lost half of theirs.
England thus began as strong favourites against the French with a rejigged line-up featuring both Jonny Wilkinson and Toby Flood in the absence of centre Mike Tindall.
Wilkinson and Flood combined well in the early stages as England made a bright start with the ball-in-hand.
But poor handling and set-pieces started to creep into England's game as Dimirti Yachvili gave the French confidence a boost by slotting over two penalties to make it 6-0.
Then, just a couple of minutes after the second penalty came a hammer blow as England lost another of their own line-outs and the impressive Vincent Clerc danced around the defence to score.
And, with just half an hour gone, England were as good as out. Alexis Palisson evaded the attention of three tacklers and fed Maxime Medard who had the simple job of diving over for 16-0.
England emerged from the dressing room for the second half knowing that it could hardly go any worse and, indeed, the 2003 champions finally built up a head of steam which resulted in Ben Foden scoring.
Wilkinson converted for perhaps his last points in international rugby as England reduced the deficit to 16-7.
However, the next spell of pressure came from France again after Tuilagi knocked on in his own 22.
Indeed, the French put the England defence under severe strain before settling for the drop goal, slotted over neatly by Yachvili's replacement Fracois Trinh-Duc.
That made it 19-7 and so England were two converted scores away from winning the tie with just 10 minutes left.
Typically, England teased and made a slight suggestion that they could pull of a ridiculously miraculous escape when Mark Cueto just managed to ground the ball over the line.
The decision went to the video referee, almost four years on from when Cueto had been denied a try in the final having been adjudged to be out of play.
Cueto was given the benefit of the doubt this time but it made no odds as another knock-on at the restart put paid to any chance of a comeback.
England were out, and deservedly so, failing to reach the last four for just the second time.
By contrast, Wales were rewarded for continuing with their positive approach by reaching the World Cup semi finals for the first time in 24 years.
Warren Gatland's men beat Ireland 22-10 in a pulsating northern hemisphere match in Wellington thanks to tries by Shane Williams, Mike Phillips and Jonathan Davies.
The Welsh got the early breakthrough to settle any nerves when Williams went over in the corner after just three minutes.
Ireland responded well, kicking for the corner in a bid to restore parity rather than allowing Ronan O'Gara to kick for the posts until later in half.
But the Welsh held firm against the Irish pack and, even when O'Gara eventually did kick successfully to make it 7-3, Leigh Halfpenny restored the seven-point lead within a couple of minutes.
Soon after half time, though, the advantage was gone as Ireland drew first blood in the second period when Munster's Keith Earls went over next to the flag.
It was all to play for now but, having got themselves back on terms, the Irish were sucker-punched by two more Welsh tries.
First, Phillips eluded Gordon D'Arcey before ensuring his score with swallow dive in the corner.
Then, just past the hour, Davies broke through the defence for a simple try which Rhys Priestland converted to make it 22-10.
That is how it stayed as Ireland struggled to make much headway against the excellent Welsh defence who are sure to provide more resistance to France than England did.
THE other semi final is an antipodean affair as hosts New Zealand continue in their quest for a first World Cup in 24 years by taking on twice-winners Australia.
However, only the South Africans will know why their defence of the William Webb Ellis trophy did not extend beyond their last eight match with Australia in Wellington.
Incredibly, the Springboks failed to cross the line once despite dominating possession and enjoying 76% territory throughout the match.
This was truly one of the most remarkable Australian sporting victories and a tribute to the Wallabies' never-say-die spirit.
Robbie Deans' men were given something to hold on as James Horwill scored an early try and then induced a penalty from which James O'Connor made it 8-0.
David Pocock was instrumental in keeping the Aussies ahead for as long as he did but Morne Steyn did at least get the Springboks on the board before half-time with a regulation penalty.
South Africa continued to dominate after the break and Jean De Villiers looked to have set Patrick Lambie away for a try but Kiwi ref Bryce Lawrence pulled it back for a forward pass.
Then, shortly afterwards, Steyn struck his second penalty before landing a drop goal to give the holders a 9-8 lead.
However, the Boks perhaps knew it was not to be their day when O'Connor restored the Wallabies' narrow advantage with a brilliant kick from the touchline after an infringement at a line-out.
Only 10 more minutes of rearguard action were required by Australia as they somehow scrambled through to their fifth World Cup semi final.
South Africa were left to wonder what might have been, though their coach Peter De Villiers was defiant in his post-match press conference.
And, just for a while, it looked like New Zealander Graham Henry would also have to explain the inexplicable as Argentina went 7-6 ahead after 30 minutes of the fourth quarter final.
The All Blacks were unsurprisingly dominant in the early stages with Kieran Reid just forced into touch before he could score.
However, the hosts only had two Piri Weepu penalties to show as the Argentines hung tough and waited for their chance.
It came after half an hour as Julio Farias Cabello broke over the line while the Kiwi defence were still dealing with the initial break.
But the Pumas were unable to see out their advantage until half-time as Weepu made it 12-7 with another two kicks.
Argentina continued to frustrate New Zealand in the first part of the second half as Marcelo Bosch made good with a huge kick from the halfway line.
Weepu kept the scoreboard ticking over the All Blacks, though, with another couple of penalties before, late on, the breakthrough came at last.
Read, who was denied in the first half, scored the try, finishing in the corner after taking Jerome Kaino's flicked pass which Martin Rodriguez flailing arm had only just failed to intercept.
And, after another Weepu penalty, the All Blacks made sure of their place in the last four for a sixth time as Brad Thorn scored easily to make it 33-10.
The Argentines were out on their feet and New Zealand briefly threatened a further try but this would have given the final score a somewhat unfair reflection.
Nevertheless, despite their early struggles, the All Blacks were deserving winners for, although their tries came late, Read and captain Richie McCaw had both gone ever so close earlier on.
Mils Muliaina joined McCaw on 100 caps but then retired after fracturing his shoulder as injuries continue to plague the Kiwis' campaign.
The fact that the ABs are already without record points scorer Dan Carter will give hope to the Wallabies that they can pull off an upset.
But, at the same time, it is impossible not to imagine New Zealand making a breakthrough against Australia, no matter how well the Aussies defend again.
Prediction: New Zealand bt Australia, Wales bt France. New Zealand v Wales in the Final.
QUARTER FINALS RESULTS
Date | Venue | Tries | |
| Sat 8 Oct | IRELAND 10-22 WALES | Wellington | 1-3 |
| Sat 8 Oct | ENGLAND 12-19 FRANCE | Eden Park, Auckland | 2-2 |
| Sun 9 Oct | SOUTH AFRICA 9-11 AUSTRALIA | Wellington | 0-1 |
| Sun 9 Oct | NEW ZEALAND 33-10 ARGENTINA | Eden Park, Auckland | 2-1 |
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