The dust in the Oita Stadium had hardly settled after England's bruising World Cup quarter-final win over Australia, and victorious head coach Eddie Jones had a message -bring on the All Blacks.
He got his wish after Steve Hansen's side href="https://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=12278016" target="_blank">routed Ireland 46-14 in Tokyo. It sets up a tantalising semifinal between the two-time defending champions and Jones' England side.
England marched into the semifinals with a comfortable 40-16 victory over the Wallabies with their most impressive 80 minutes of the tournament.
"We are happy to play anyone, obviously I have got a soft spot for New Zealand. You know I would love to play New Zealand in the semifinal, it will be a great challenge for us, been looking forward to it," Jones said.
"The good things for us is that we can still improve. We weren't at our best, Australia started the game fast and played superbly. The first 20 we had to hang in there, hung in there and got the momentum back I am so pleased for the players that got there."
England coach Eddie Jones wants the All Blacks in the World Cup semifinal. Photo / Getty Images
Hours after England's impressive victory over Australia, the All Blacks were equally dominant and then some setting up a semifinal between two teams very much in form.
It's been 20 years since the two rivals met at the World Cup, a 1999 pool game. They have only met once in the knockout stage of the tournament which was also a semifinal clash back in 1995. On that day Jonah Lomu ran riot as the All Blacks thrashed England 45-29.
The All Blacks and England have met just once in the four years since the last World Cup. That was at Twickenham last year which the All Blacks narrowly won 16-15.
