Rugby World Cup 2011: New Zealand must look beyond Dan Carter’s groin

Toby Manhire: Amid all the hyperbole the host country is slowly moving on from the plight of their stellar fly-half and that JFK moment

Rugby World Cup 2011: The Breakdown on the quarter-finals

Paul Rees: Three of the last-eight encounters appear a direct contrast in styles, while even the Celtic contest could be a meeting of opposites

Rugby World Cup 2011: Ireland’s Rory Best fit to face Wales

Rory Best has recovered from a shoulder injury and will be fit to start for Ireland against Wales in their World Cup quarter-final

Enter Toby Flood, the extra playmaker with an insurance plan to boot

The selections of Toby Flood, Nick Easter and Tom Palmer has the potential to enliven England's hitherto dour Rugby World Cup campaign and topple France in the quarter-finals

Rugby World Cup 2011: Wales’ Rhys Priestland counts his blessings

From third-choice to first in a matter of weeks, the calm fly-half Rhys Priestland is making the Welsh midfield tick

Rugby World Cup 2011: Wales and Ireland invoke spirit of Lions

The New Zealand public have taken the Celts to their hearts, seeing them as antidotes to northern torpor

Rugby World Cup 2011: Defiance at heart of Martin Johnson’s strategy

Eddie Butler: The stubborn England manager Martin Johnson is determined to obliterate the whiff of scandal with the smell of success

Rugby World Cup 2011: Young blood gets dynamic Ireland’s pulse racing

Declan Kidney's team have been transformed since the Six Nations thanks to sprightly new faces and a back-to-basics approach

Rugby World Cup 2011: South Africa fear power of Australia scrum

South Africa are determined to counter the threat posed by the Australia pack in Sunday's Rugby World Cup quarter-final in Wellington

Rugby World Cup 2011: Wilkinson and Flood can flummox French

Shaun Edwards: Martin Johnson's decision to pair Jonny Wilkinson with Toby Flood can bring England's outside backs into play

Rugby World Cup 2011: are the balls more pumped up than the players?

Paul Rees: Van Straaten loves it, Wilkinson does not but success or not with the Gilbert Virtuo is down to the player, not the ball

Rugby World Cup 2011: Wilkinson and Flood to hold private shoot-out

Jonny Wilkinson and Toby Flood will stage a private shoot-out to decide who will be England's first-choice goal-kicker

Rugby World Cup 2011: England drop Courtney Lawes and James Haskell

Martin Johnson has made four changes for England's Rugby World Cup quarter-final against France, with Courtney Lawes and James Haskell both dropping to the bench