The most unlikely of friends off the field will try and knock each other out of the Rugby World Cup in the semifinal, Springboks versus All Blacks is a match up anywhere, but at Twickenham the winner takes all.

All Blacks coach Steve Hansen says the teams of 1999 and 2007 can rest easy as the 2015 AB's have avenged and laid to rest the ghosts of those defeats.

Hear what the All Black players think about destroying the French in the quarter-finals, and looking forward to the old Springbok foe. Dan Cater and Julian Savea join Dane Coles and try scoring lock Brodie Retallick to reflect on the stunning victory.

A stunning win was met with a muted response by the All Blacks this morning. Their brilliant rugby pleased them, allowed them satisfaction, but it didn't have coach Steve Hansen believing anything other than they are now in the semifinal. That was it as far as he and captain Richie McCaw were concerned: they are a game closer to what they came to do but it all starts again this week.

All Blacks fans in Auckland react to New Zealand's massive knockout win over France in the Rugby World Cup quarterfinal.

Gregor Paul and Patrick McKendry are in Cardiff with the All Blacks who blew away France in a match that mixed brutality with beauty. The rest of the world will be quite terrified by how good the All Blacks were. They obliterated France. It was stunning rugby.

Spontaneous outbursts of the French National Anthem La Marseillaise are happening on the streets of Cardiff before the knockout quarterfinal match between France and the All Blacks.

There are an estimated 4500 New Zealanders in the Welsh capital and looking to attend the sell-out game. And more than 1500 of them congregated at a Cardiff bar on Friday night to fortify themselves.

All Blacks captain Richie McCaw is relaxed and confident before the knockout quarterfinal against France in Cardiff, he has learnt the lessons from 2007 and believe the last eight years is testament to that fact.

Nigel Yalden gives the latest update on the Rugby World Cup from Swansea.

WARNING: Contains sexual references. Viewer discretion is advised. Covering all the latest from the RWC including the latest player rankings, NZ vs France - Who’s the better lover? Plus, there’s an out of control rolling maul on the streets of Auckland!

Brendon McCullum was accused of tailoring his statements to cricket corruption investigators in order to avoid a potential ban for a failing to report the alleged spot fixing approaches from Chris Cairns for more than two years. The New Zealand captain was giving evidence against his former "idol" and told the jury in the Southwark Crown Court that Cairns approached him twice in 2008 to become involved in spot fixing.

In a packed press conference at the Swansea Rugby Club today, Hansen felt moved to reassure an anxious public back home. Hansen effectively said - don't worry, everything is going to plan.

The All Blacks are pacing themselves and planning and plotting ahead of the quarterfinal knockout match against France in Cardiff, Ma'a Nonu, Aaron Smith and Nehe Milner-Skudder are 'excited and on edge'.

All Blacks coach Steve Hansen has had the luxury of being able to name a predictable and strong team, a settled line-up which includes the return of skipper Richie McCaw and left wing Julian Savea to the starting XV. Hansen also made a dig at France, when he referred to their traditional flair being played and coached out of them by their domestic competition and a succession of coaches

All Blacks coach Steve Hansen was asked about French rugby and the relationship between France and New Zealand. It is one which has seen many ups and downs on and off the pitch, while talking about flair and being unpredictable he mentions the low point of the fatal bombing of Greenpeace ship the Rainbow Warrior in Auckland in 1985 by two French agents.

Gregor Paul and Patrick McKendry are with the All Blacks in Swansea and review the team to play France in the quarterfinals. Pound for pound, the All Blacks are going to put a better team on the park than France. It won't matter who the French pick, the reality for them is that in most positions, their individuals won't be as good. That's the objective, clinical assessment, but one the French will try to ignore. But it will be hard.

Join Herald rugby writer Wynne Gray and former All Black Richard Turner as they chew over World Cup topics as the tournament heats up.

Richie McCaw statue. Video / ODT

The All Blacks loose forwards don't need reminding this is finals rugby with the loser going home, Jerome Kaino and Kieran Read are looking forward to the challenge while Sam Cane explains why the All Blacks don't always compete for the ball at every breakdown.

All Blacks captain Richie McCaw has made an appearance at an exclusive reception hosted by the Queen and Prince Harry at Buckingham Palace. Coach Steve Hansen and Tony Woodcock describe what it was like and update on preparations to tackle the old for France in Cardiff.

The All Blacks captain Richie McCaw might be 'superman' in the opinion of his long time friend Dan Carter, but the sooner he stops being the 'water-boy' and gets back playing the better.

With All Blacks centurion Tony Woodcock invalided out of the Rugby World Cup, replacement prop Joe Moody has arrived after thirty odd hours in a plane and then three hours by train to Swansea to join the AB's as they get ready for France in the Quarter finals.

Gregor Paul and Patrick McKendry are touring with the All Blacks, and went to the France v Ireland pool match in Cardiff, Hera their opinion and analysis of the knockout match in Cardiff between the All Blacks and France.

It's knock out rugby time for the All Blacks and first up in the quarter-finals are the AB's nemesis France, they are first up in Cardiff this Saturday, so get behind the All Blacks.

Pool play is over, the quarter-final teams are set, and All Blacks coach is acutely aware that lose in Cardiff the AB's will be back in New Zealand within a week licking their wounds and awaiting the next world cup opportunity in Japan.

The All Blacks are in recovery mode as they await the knock out quarter-final clash in Cardiff. It's 'do or die footy' with the loser going home without the spoils.

All Blacks coach Steve Hansen reflects with Conrad Smith about the lessons learnt in 2007 and pressure of the upcoming quarter-final in Cardiff, and if the ghosts of the defeat to France in 2007 will have any influence.

Tony Woodcock's All Blacks career is over after he pulled a hamstring in yesterday's 47-9 victory over Tonga. Coach Steve Hansen confirmed the news late last night, which not only meant the end of Woodcock's tournament but also his long and successful All Blacks career. He played 118 internationals and scored his 10th test try yesterday.

All Blacks coach Steve Hansen is following a plan, and getting into the quarter-finals is part one, He meets the press after beating Tonga in Newcastle as the AB's wait to see if they play Ireland or France in Cardiff.