OPINION: Can the Rugby World Cup semis dish up another weekend for the ages?

From Marseille to Paris, the rugby world was gripped by all four matches with various storylines.

Paris provided two of the great Test matches as the top four teams in the world battled for every inch of the Stade de France turf.

Saturday’s clash between New Zealand and Ireland provided fans with jaw-dropping moments and sheer disbelief as the Irish finished the contest with 37 phases of attack before Sam Whitelock managed to pilfer the ball to win the decisive penalty.

Just 24 hours later, the partisan home fans had to watch on as a streetwise, stubborn and staunch Springbok side shattered their hopes of a home World Cup triumph.

A team that understands and embraces the pressure of knock-out rugby went to the well on a number of occasions in order to topple Le Bleus in a contest that had it all from sheer pace, sublime skill and unrelenting physicality.

In the south, the two less impressive quarter-finals also dished up their fair share of excitement.

Michael Cheika and Los Pumas outfoxed Wales in a match that was eclipsed by the events in Paris but was no less significant for both sides.

Saturday’s clash between England and the Flying Fijians was also a fight until the final whistle.

With the crowd behind them and possibly the rest of the rugby world, Fiji was one pass away from booking their spot in the last four and cancelling any plans to return to Suva. England’s tenacity and will to win saw them over the line.

What we’ve seen is the four strongest teams emerge from the melee of the group stages and the quarters, but will we see two more spectacles?

I fear not.

Friday night will see a recently serviced juggernaut in the form of New Zealand take on a Pumas side that might fancy their chances. However, those flights of fancy might be just that.

The All Blacks showed why they are rugby’s greatest export, and in toppling the world's number-one side, they didn’t seem too out of breath at the end – a worrying sign for all teams.

On Saturday evening the defending champions meet their defeated finalists from four years ago.

South Africa’s ability to prepare in such a way that no possible outcome isn’t explored gives me a sense that England’s poor run against the Boks at World Cups will continue.

It must be noted that the English are the only unbeaten side left in the tournament. They have bumped and scraped their way into the last four and their performance against New Zealand at the same stage four years ago must also not be forgotten.

I don’t want to be the person that writes again next week previewing the Springboks in the 3^rd/4^th play-off, but England should be nothing more than a speedbump on the road to a showdown against their greatest foe on the 28^th of October.

Predictions:
New Zealand 36-15 Argentina
South Africa 29-16 England