Rugby World Cup 2015: Key Picks, Players to Watch in Quarter-Final Fixtures

Twenty teams have been reduced to a more deserving eight as the Rugby World Cup 2015 quarter-finals get under way on Saturday with a superstar array of world-class talent making its return to centre stage.

London's Twickenham Stadium and Cardiff's Millennium Stadium will play host to four matches comprising a wealth of the greatest in the sport today from both sides of the equator.

Whether it's based on current form or merely the responsibility they face in the final eight, we've picked out a selection of key players to keep an eye on in the quarter-finals, complete with this weekend's schedule.

Date	Time	Fixture
Saturday, October 17	4 p.m. BST/11 a.m. ET	South Africa vs. Wales
Saturday, October 17	8 p.m. BST/3 p.m. ET	New Zealand vs. France
Sunday, October 18	1 p.m. BST/8 a.m. ET	Ireland vs. Argentina
Sunday, October 18	4 p.m. BST/11 a.m. ET	Australia vs. Scotland

Robbie Henshaw

Ireland's 24-9 win over France last Sunday was a watershed moment for the nation, not least for centre starlet Robbie Henshaw, who appeared to stand 10-feet tall in the face of rampant adversity.

Alastair Grant/Associated Press

Despite losing both fly-half partner Johnny Sexton and captain Paul O'Connell to injury, the Connacht man emerged with arguably his best performance in international green to date, marshalling the back line with a maturity far beyond his 22 years.

That notion really epitomises Henshaw as a player, who despite being the youngest in his team, often plays like a seasoned veteran, and he says he can be more of a leader in future, per The42.ie:

"

I feel I can step it up as a leader, and definitely in the back line and out wide I can give the boys more. 

But it doesn’t have to be vocally, I can just do it through actions on the pitch by putting in a big hit or carrying the ball. 

So that’s the way I’d like to be recognised as a leader, to keep my head down and do my work.

"

Ireland need it as much as ever going into a quarter-final against Argentina, where his opposite man, Juan Martin Hernandez, is likely to hold the keys for the Pumas in unlocking their back-line potential.

One particular trait boasted by Brian O'Driscoll—the man whose throne Henshaw's tipped to fill—was that match-changing displays became almost commonplace for the Dubliner.

Henshaw was a phenomenon against France, but he now has to exhibit those match-leading standards against Argentina and beyond.

Thierry Dusautoir

Christophe Ena/Associated Press

New Zealand coach Steve Hansen prepared for Saturday's quarter-final against France by heaping praise on enemy captain Thierry Dusautoir, who he dubbed "one of the great players of all time," per ESPN's Tom Hamilton.

It's a welcome confidence boost following a tough week for the Toulouse veteran. First came the defeat to Ireland before a week of speculation insisting there was a rift in the French camp, but Dusautoir says those claims are way off, according to Sky Sports: "We're still together until the end of the competition; players, coaches, medical staff. I don't know where this article is coming from...we're preparing for this game as a team and with all the boys and all the coaches and the manager."

Alastair Grant/Associated Press

Leading a team against the world's No. 1-ranked side is hard enough at the best of times, never mind when an apparent media witch hunt is causing disruption among the ranks.

But Dusautoir knows what must be done to beat the All Blacks; after all, he scored against the reigning world champions back in 2007, when Les Bleus emerged as 20-18 victors over New Zealand at this stage of that year's World Cup.

The 33-year-old is one of only a handful of players remaining from that date eight years ago, and his all-action approach will be crucial to ensuring France see enough possession to have an impact on Saturday.

Dan Biggar

From at one time being a debatable pick to absolutely indispensable in the space of several years, Dan Biggar's transformation into a Wales international staple has been mesmerising to watch.

Upon seeing Leigh Halfpenny ruled out before a World Cup ball had even been kicked, many assumed Wales' kicking boots had gone out the door with him, but Breathe Sport has outlined how Biggar has stepped up in that regard:

"

Top 5 kicking percentages heading into the QFs #RWC2015 #Biggar pic.twitter.com/q0DzXx1HHV

— BreatheSport (@BreatheSport) October 13, 2015"

Wales mercurial No. 10 will be the man his side look to for inspiration against South Africa on Saturday, where a rampaging Springboks outfit are quickly gathering pace as a tournament favourite.

The scrum will be a particularly critical aspect of the match, and as a result, any penalty opportunities that come with it will be vital for Biggar, but as was shown in the win over England, his properties as a carrying catalyst can be just as impressive.