Ben Dirs
BBC Sport at the Millennium Stadium

Stirring scenes in Cardiff as jubilant Pumas fans greeted the Argentina coach outside the Millennium Stadium. They are hugely outnumbered by the Irish, but what they lack in numbers they make up for in noise. At least for now...

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John Haughey
BBC Sport at the Millennium Stadium

"We’re on Maradona watch in case the football genius shows up to watch the Pumas after his appearance at the win over Tonga at Leicester City stadium during the pool stages.

"The little burly one said he would return to cheer on his country’s rugby team if they reached the semi-finals but Argentine journalists are telling us that they won’t be surprised to see his face on the big screen here in the Millennium Stadium today.

"We’ll keep our eyes peeled."

Image source, Getty Images

There's a river of humanity weaving its way through the streets of Cardiff. The Welsh capital has turned Irish for the day, so it seems. 

There's ale being supped, songs being sung. But who will win? And which is the biggest loss for the men in green? Paul O'Connell? Sean O'Brien? Johnny Sexton? Will they cope without their talismen? 

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John Haughey
BBC Sport at the Millennium Stadium

"After last week’s epic win over France, there is no let-up for injury and suspension-ravaged Ireland as they face an emerging and close-to-full strength Argentina side in Cardiff.

"The mood in Ireland was still one of confidence during the week as Joe Schmidt’s side prepared to go into battle without talisman Paul O’Connell, Peter O’Mahony, Sean O’Brien and Jared Payne.

"But then came Saturday’s news that playmaking fly-half Johnny Sexton (below) had been ruled out. Was that the tipping point? We’ll soon find out as Ireland aim to qualify for a World Cup semi-final for the first time."

Image source, Inpho

Anyway, on to other matters. Ireland and Argentina will, in under an hour, bludgeon each other for 80 minutes for a place in the semi-finals. 

Argentina have done it all before, reaching the last four in 2007, but Ireland are chasing history, hoping to become the first Irish side to reach the World Cup semi-finals. 

Can they do it? If they do, they will have done it without their inspirational leader Paul O'Connell, whose international career was prematurely ended by injury last weekend in that glorious victory over France. 

Over in Cardiff, as Wales fans were getting to grips with the realisation that their men would not become world champions, New Zealand were running riot against France. 

The All Blacks had been unconvincing in the Pool stages but the defending champs fired on all cylinders at the Millennium Stadium, and fired a warning to their rivals. 

"New Zealand never looked like losing against a Philippe Saint-Andre side forced to deny they are in outright rebellion," write Ben Dirs in his report of that scintillating 62-13 victory. 

Image source, Getty Images

The Sunday Telegraph, external leads with a picture of match-winning try scorer Fourie du Preez diving over the tryline. "Dragons slayed," says the paper. 

Sir Ian McGeechan says it as it is. "Wales were heroic in defeat, yes, but Warren Gatland’s men had a real chance of glory and did not take it," says the former Lions coach in the paper. 

"Baffling indiscipline at the breakdown and the failure to score a try in their flying opening cost Wales dearly."

Oh if only Gethin Jenkins had  found Tyler Morgan instead of touch with that loopy high pass... 

Image source, Sunday Telegraph

Tom Fordyce
Chief sports writer at Twickenham

BBC Sport chief sports writer Tom Fordyce was at Twickenham on Saturday. What was his verdict on Wales' defeat? 

"You can tell it as a magnificent rearguard action against the odds. You can remember it as collective red-shirted heroism, as another heart-breaker of a near-miss, as a litany of what-ifs and agonising what-might-have-beens," writes Tom. 

"After Wales' 23-19 defeat by South Africa in the World Cup quarter-finals all those would be true. But they are trumped by a greater truth: who wants to be the ill-fated losers once again?"

Image source, Getty Images

Wales' players have been tweeting their thanks to supporters this morning. "Roller coaster" has been mentioned a few times. 

Barry John, the great Wales and Lions fly-half, says Wales deserved more for their bravery against the Springboks. 

In his Wales Online column,, external John says: "In the cold light of day, and with a harsh professional hat on, South Africa were perhaps just about the better side.

"But they were helped early on by some key decisions from referee Wayne Barnes. Put it this way, Barnes is very fortunate Jose Mourinho wasn’t sitting in the Twickenham stands as coach of Wales. He’d have been flying out of the blocks to voice his complaints!"

Image source, Getty Images

There's a pick me up for Wales' defeated players in Welsh Sunday paper the Wales on Sunday. "Thank you... You gave it everything," the paper tells the country's players. 

Image source, Wales on Sunday

But before we look into the future, let's review the past. Wales, having courageously fought against the odds to reach the quarter-finals, bowed out of the competition on Saturday after another narrow defeat to a southern hemisphere big cheese. 

They led 13-12 at the break but Fourie du Preez's try with five minutes remaining edged a 23-19 win for the Springboks. Oh, it was close.  

Head coach Warren Gatland, though, refuses to blame his team's staggeringly long injury list for the defeat. "We don't want to make any excuses. South Africa won... and we weren't good enough to win," said the straight-talking Kiwi. 

Image source, Getty Images

To paraphrase a line from a popular '80s Saturday night entertainment show, here's a quick reminder of today's quarter-finals: 

Ireland v Argentina (13:00 BST)

Australia v Scotland (16:00 BST)

It's pretty simple stuff, the winner of both ties will face each other in next week's semi-finals. 

Image source, Rex Features

Hello! Sorry Wales, sorry France, but this wonderful World Cup must continue without you. 

There are more quarter-finals today, two in fact, and hopefully they'll be as fierce as Wales' encounter with South Africa and as pleasing on the eye as New Zealand's humbling of France. 

Ireland, Argentina, Australia and Scotland remain, but four into two just won't go.

Image source, Rex Features

Two have been beaten. Down and out. Over and out. Dreams dashed. Belief smashed. But two can still strive for greatness. They live on. For seven more days at least. 

Prepare yourselves. There will be more grief and misery today. More joy, too. But who will be on their hands and knees come the end of the matches and who will be jubilantly living it up at the full time whistle? Let's find out. 

Image source, Rex Features