It's a knock out time at Rugby World Cup

New Zealand head into next weekend's quarter-finals firm favourites to break their World Cup hoodoo yet the indefinable pressure of all-or-nothing matches looms large. The All Blacks know more than anyone else the foibles of looking too far ahead at the big prize having been denied in previous sudden-death upsets when the pressure gripped them. New Zealand, winners of the inaugural 1987 Webb Ellis Cup but win-less in the intervening 24 years, stormed through their pool, racking up a tournament-high 240 points and 36 tries. Their first obstacle will be 2007 third placegetters Argentina at Auckland's Eden Park on Sunday. The All Blacks haven't lost at their citadel since 1994 -- an unbroken 25-match unbeaten run -- and they have never lost to the Pumas in 13 encounters. The hot house of national expectations will be a factor, so too will be the loss of influential goalkicking fly-half Dan Carter, out of the tournament with a serious groin injury. "He's a key All Black, not only on the field as the navigator of his team for a long time but a key person off it. We just need to show strength in this situation," coach Graham Henry said. How important a player Carter is to the All Blacks will be borne out. So if the All Blacks are to falter again who will challenge them and go on to take the big prize? Defending champions South Africa are bidding for an unprecedented third Webb Ellis Cup and have steadily worked their way unbeaten through the tournament after an indifferent Tri-Nations this year. South Africa will go into Sunday's sudden-death match without their in-form inside-centre Frans Steyn, who is heading home after damaging his shoulder in the bruising 13-5 win over the Samoans last Friday. The Springboks brought one of the most experienced squads, averaging 40 caps per player, and they have the players who know how to win a World Cup. But their recent record against Australia is not encouraging -- winning only four of their last 12 Tests -- and wary about having to defend against one of the most exhilarating backlines in world rugby. It has been a challenging tournament for Robbie Deans's Wallabies. They came into the tournament as world number two and the reigning Tri-Nations champions yet Ireland put the skids under them with a famous 15-6 victory at Eden Park. The Irish performance raised all the old doubts about the capacity of the Wallaby forwards to handle big-match pressure and provide enough front-foot ball to unleash their Quade Cooper-sparked backline. Twice finalists France have endured a torrid tournament under coach Marc Lievremont and Les Bleus face Six-Nations foes England at Eden Park on Saturday in a battle of the European heavyweights. France were humbled by Tonga in one of the biggest World Cup upsets in Wellington last weekend amid reports of disunity among the French squad. Both nations have shared wins in their last 12 encounters, but 2003 champions England have beaten the French three times in four meetings at the World Cups. England have never been out of strife at this tournament -- Mike Tindall's 'night out' in Queenstown; 'Ballgate' with two coaches suspended for illegally swapping balls during a match and lock Courtney Lawes suspended after kneeing an Argentinian opponent. Coach Martin Johnson insists the turmoil is not affecting his squad's campaign and that will be under scrutiny against the unpredictable French. Perhaps the most intriguing quarter-final will be Ireland-Wales in Wellington on Saturday. The Irish stunned the Wallabies and topped their group at the World Cup for a first time, while Wales lost to the Springboks by one point and amassed 180 points -- second only to the All Blacks in the pool stage. Ireland have won nine of their last 12 meetings and it's the first time both Six Nations rivals have faced each other in a World Cup knockout game with the big prize of a semi-final spot on offer.