TV Pick of the week: Rugby World Cup

Keith Quinn will call Sunday's Australia-South Africa match on Maori TV. Photo / APN

If only Dan Carter's famously sponsored Y-fronts had reinforcing then he might have run out on to the field against Argentina this weekend as the knock-out rounds of the World Cup kick off. Oh well, the games must go on - and from a couch potato point of view there are many fine match-ups, and all can be seen live, whether you've got Sky or not.

Although Sky Sport 1 and the Rugby Channel will have the four games live, you can also catch them free-to-air on Maori Television, starting with Wales v Ireland on Saturday in Wellington, with kick-off at 6pm. That will be followed by the second quarter-final between England and France at 8.30pm.

TV One and TV3 will also have the games in a mix of live and delayed forms (more on that coverage soon).

Although it will be good to see the All Blacks on Sunday night at 8.30 (live on all channels), the game of the quarters will be between Australia and South Africa (kick-off 6pm).

Seeing the two teams who are the All Blacks' toughest competition in the tournament (presuming our lads beat the Argies) batter each other into submission will be one to relish. The game is on Maori and Sky with delayed coverage on TV One after the All Blacks game.

The usual suspects are in the commentary booths on all channels, although one to listen out for on Maori TV is veteran match caller Keith Quinn, who follows his commentary of the thriller between South Africa and Wales in pool play with Ireland v Wales on Saturday and South Africa v Australia on Sunday.

The coverage on TV One starts at 7.30pm on Saturday with Martin Devlin hosting the live build-up to France v England (including highlights of the first quarter-final) before Andrew Saville, Jeff Wilson and Taine Randell take over at kick-off.

On Sunday, the All Blacks' game is live, followed by delayed coverage of South Africa v Australia.

TV3 also has the second quarter-final live, with Hamish McKay, Andrew Mehrtens and Richard Loe in the hot seats, followed by full delayed coverage of the earlier game.

For a break from the rugby, catch the V8s on TV3 for all the high-speed smash, bash and crash action at the Bathhurst 1000 live from Mt Panorama at 9.30am on Sunday.

Kick-off times

* Wales v Ireland: 6pm, Saturday, Wellington
* England v France: 8.30pm, Saturday, Auckland
* South Africa v Australia: 6pm, Sunday, Wellington
* All Blacks v Argentina: 8.30pm, Sunday, Auckland

When: Various times
Where: Sky Sport 1, Rugby, Maori, TV One, TV3
What: Sudden death

- TImeOut