The pressure is on Colin Slade tonight as the All Blacks face Argentina in their quarterfinal at Eden Park. Photo / Paul Estcourt
5.08pm:
Kick-off for the All Blacks game against Argentina isn't for a few hours yet, but we know that crowds will be steadily gathering in Kingsland, the hospitality-centric suburb close to Eden Park.
But there's nothing hospitable about an $8 cup of coffee. And that's exactly what punters are facing at Kingsland's Bouchon cafe. Price hiking for the cup is sad, but it's been happening at a lot of places. Here's Bouchon's defence:
"The higher price on game-day is because I have to put on eight staff instead of two."
But aren't those extra staff members being put on to deal with extra business?
4.58pm:
There's just over an hour to go until Australia and South Africa go head to head in Wellington, so let's take a moment to see how Jim Morton sees this one.
He thinks the key man to make or break the game is Quade Cooper:
"The enigmatic Wallabies playmaker has already thrown three failed cut-out passes in the tournament and another Cooper blooper could sink Australia in tonight's sudden-death quarter-final."
4.49pm:
If you had plans to catch today's quarter-finals in Wellington's main fanzone, hurry up. According to Newstalk ZB it's almost at capacity:
"Wellington's main fanzone is nearly full as people flood in for tonight's quarterfinal World Cup rugby match. Courtenay Place is closed off for the South Africa versus Australia game.
The fanzone is "absolutely rocking" according to our reporter, and has just about reached its capacity of 25,000 people. There are many South African fans in their green shirts, hats and hair and Australian fans with gold shirts and hair.
Everyone's in a good mood and both sides are convinced their team will win."
4.40pm:
Last night Wellington turned out a typical wild, wet and windy day for Wales and Ireland. To be fair, those teams are pretty used to conditions like that from their home grounds, but today it's the sunshine-loving Wallabies and Springboks squaring up in the capital.
So, what's the weather looking like for them there? Here's the forecast.
We can tell you that in Auckland the sun has been shining and the wind has been pretty light, pretty nice conditions for running rugby.
4.31pm:
As the crowds start to build around the cake tin and downtown Wellington, let's go back in time, earlier in the week, when Robbie Deans and a couple of the Wallabies talked about how they were feeling about their quarter-final clash with the Springboks.
4.24pm:
Yesterday was all about the northern hemisphere sides, so in the aftermath of the two match-ups, here is how the UK press saw the action.
And for good measure, here's a French reaction from L'equipe . Thankfully they have an English headline, but we're afraid the rest is up to you to translate.
4.13pm:
Yesterday's first quarter-final was an absolute cracker.
Forget the myths of 'dull' northern hemisphere rugby, this match was fantastic. Wales looked absolutely superb, and Warren Gatland is rightly over the moon with how they played.
Here he is discussing last night's win over Ireland.
4.03pm:
Newstalk ZB has just reported on how things are taking shape in downtown Wellington:
"Australia and South Africa fans are already beginning to gather at Wellington's fanzone ahead of tonight's match.
There is a steady stream of people walking along Courtenay Place, which has been closed off.
A couple of thousand people are at the fanzone already.
The area can take up to 25,000 and it is expected to get a lot busier this afternoon because of the fine weather."
3.56pm:
Few people could be more disappointed than Martin Johnson last night. Using the words 'brutal', 'tears' and 'disappointed' - here he is reflecting on the game last night.
He may have more reason to be a bit down in the dumps too, with questions surrounding his future at the helm of the England side.
3.48pm:
Wherever you were last night, we're sure you enjoyed the France vs England game. But let's take a little bit of time right now to transport you to central Auckland, and around Eden Park for the reactions from joyous French fans, and glummer than glum English fans.
3.37pm:
Apart from being one of the All Blacks' greatest captains, Sean Fitzpatrick also likes to use French in a headline.
The trend continues in his latest column, and with good reason, as the French performance last night well and truly called for Gallic expressions of shock.
"The difference between the team last night and that which lost to Tonga was worlds apart."
Oui, Sean. Oui.
3.27pm:
Not many people picked France to send England home last night, with their troubled form in pool play, and talk of disputes between coach and players. But all that's forgotten now, and the focus has shifted to how dismal England's World Cup trip was.
Over at The Telegraph, you can see a blow-by-blow account of England's time in New Zealand for Rugby World Cup 2011.
3.18pm:
Good afternoon everybody and welcome to day two of knockout rugby.
Wales and France booked their places in the semis last night, and today four teams will do everything in their power to grab the remaining two spots in next week's semi-finals.
However, maybe one player will be wanting to do a little bit extra today.
One player who perhaps has something to make up for. One player who may or may not have got hammered when he perhaps shouldn't have.
Who is this one player? We'll give you a hint - his name begins with 'C' and ends with 'ory Jane'.
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