After 40 matches in RWC 2003 the business end of the Tournament gets underway this weekend with the first of the knock out stages.
The Southern Hemisphere has supplied the winner of the past four Rugby World Cups but with five of the eight quarter finalists from the Northern Hemisphere, could this finally be their chance to wrestle the Webb Ellis Cup away from their southern counterparts?
Mick Donohoe reviews the Pools as we head to the knock out stages this weekend.
Defending champs home in Pool A
Australia finished on top of Pool A with four wins from four starts amassing 273 points for and only 32 against.
The Wallabies broke plenty of records on their way to the quarter finals, including a 142-0 defeat of Namibia, but still have plenty to do if they are to feature in the big one that counts on November 22.
The defending world champions overcame a nervous start against Argentina in the Tournament opener in front of 83,000 fans at Sydney’s Telstra Stadium, before easily accounting for Romania and Namibia.
Fittingly, the final match in Pool A was the best, Australia scraping home by a point against Ireland setting up a quarter final clash with Scotland.
The 17-16 loss to the Wallabies relegated the Keith Wood led Irish to second place in Pool A leaving them to face Tournament dark horse France in the quarters. A clash they were hoping to avoid.
The improving Argentineans showed glimpses of form throughout the Tournament while Romania and Namibia will be better for the experience.
France lead the charge in Pool B
France finished their pool commitments with maximum points after earning a bonus point in each of their four matches.
Les Bleus were untroubled in the pool matches, though Japan put in a spirited performance against them before going down 51-29 in the match of the pool.
Scotland, though humbled by France 51-9 and narrowly escaping defeat against Fiji in their final pool match, also moved through to the knock out stages, but face a daunting task to progress against defending champions Australia on home soil.
Fiji will be disappointed they failed to qualify for the final eight, while the USA head home recording their first win since 1987 with an impressive win over Japan.
The Cherry Blossoms finished without a win in the Tournament but won plenty of fans with their spontaneous style of play.
England take the honours in Pool C
England, the number one team in the world on the IRB’s official world rankings, topped Pool C but not before providing some heart stopping moments for their fans.
After an 84-6 win over RWC debutants Georgia in Perth, England beat a determined South Africa 25-6 but got the fright of their life against Samoa before running out eventual winners 35-22.
The Tournament heavyweights rounded out their pool matches with an easy 111-13 win over Uruguay last night.
After a troubled preparation South Africa will be buoyed by their performances against England, and their 60-10 win over Samoa with the talented Derick Hougaard starring at fly half.
Samoa were the surprise packet of the pool pushing England all the way in the match of the pool, but
John Boe’s men couldn’t back up this brave performance against the Springboks.
The Pacific Islanders head home happy with the unofficial title, ‘best of the also-rans’.
Uruguay and Georgia won plenty of hearts with their spirited play, Los Teros beating the Lelos 24-12 in their ‘grand final’ at Aussie Stadium in Sydney in front of over 30,000 fans.
All Blacks win the race in Pool D
Many considered New Zealand would win a onen horse race to finish top of Pool D but Wales had other ideas.
After dispatching of Canada, Tonga and Italy, Wales pushed New Zealand all the way only succumbing to the All Blacks in the final 15 minutes, recording the second highest losing score in history in their 53-37 loss.
Italy recovered from a first-up 70-7 whitewash by New Zealand to finish strongly with two wins over Tonga and Canada, to the delight of coach John Kirwan.
Canada farewelled their skipper Al Charron, a veteran of four RWC’s, with an inspiring 24-7 win over Tonga at Wollongong’s WIN Stadium in which the 37 year old was stretchered from the field with concussion.
North versus South
Will England, France, Scotland, Ireland or Wales be the first team from the north to hold the Webb Ellis Cup aloft?
Or will New Zealand, South Africa or Australia continue the south’s stranglehold?
The scene is set for what should be a hotly contested finals series, one that has captured the imagination of fans around the world.
Make sure you stay tuned to rugbyworldcup.com for all the finals action.
Quarter final 1
New Zealand (Winner Pool D) v South Africa (Runner up Pool C), Saturday, November 8, Telstra Dome, Melbourne
Quarter final 2
Australia (Winner Pool A) v Scotland (Runner up Pool B), Saturday, November 8 Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane
Quarter final 3
France (Winner Pool B) v Ireland (Runner up Pool A), Sunday, November 9, Telstra Dome, Melbourne
Quarter final 4
England (Winner Pool C) v Wales (Runner up Pool D), Sunday, November 9, Suncorp Stadium Brisbane