Rugby World Cup Fixtures 2015: Top Storylines in Quarter-Finals

Rugby World Cup 2015’s quarter-finals have thrown up fascinating storylines to follow over the course of the week.

New Zealand are once again favourites for a World Cup, but once again face their arch-nemesis: France.

Ireland versus Argentina looks like the most fiercely contested quarter-final. The Pumas defeated the Emerald Isle in the pool stage at France 2007 and are looking good bets to match their semi-final appearance from eight years ago. Will the Argentine magician the day the two teams met at the Parc des Princes cast another spell over the Irish?

Elsewhere, two stories to follow revolve around legendary South African backs, one still on the field and another off it.

And for triumph in adversity, Wales provide the final featured storyline to keep tabs on over the quarter-final weekend.

New Zealand and France: Another Classic?

France and New Zealand produced the best game in Rugby World Cup history 16 years ago at Twickenham. New Zealand looked on course to reach the final in 1999, when, despite a 24-10 lead against France and with Jonah Lomu wreaking havoc, the All Blacks lost 43-31 (see video above). For France, it was revenge for losing the 1987 final.

In 2007, they overcame New Zealand with a 20-18 quarter-final win in Cardiff, albeit courtesy of a suspiciously forward Frederic Michalak pass. Ominously for superstitious All Blacks, they face France this time at the same venue: the Millennium Stadium.

In 2011, New Zealand dispatched Les Bleus 37-17 in the pool stage, but the French came within a whisker of winning the final, going down 8-7 at Eden Park, Auckland.

Will the 2015 quarter-final match the excitement of France and New Zealand’s previous knockout encounters?

Bryan Habana and Jonah Lomu’s Rugby World Cup Try Record

AFP/Getty Images

Bryan Habana is currently tied at the top of the Rugby World Cup try-scoring table with the great Jonah Lomu. Habana, now 32, will know that he has a golden opportunity to overtake his fellow left winger in what may be his last World Cup.

Habana spoke to rugbyworldcup.com about the influence the famous All Black had on him as a young South African watching a home World Cup:

"

For me he is an inspiration. In 1995 for me in that World Cup, to see a guy like Jonah Lomu demolish England, he went on to become a global superstar. I will never forget. I was there targeting signatures.

I’ve an unbelievable amount of respect for what he gave to the game, even more so for what he meant to the game.

"

Habana, though, will be going all out for a record 16th Rugby World Cup try.

Juan Martin Hernandez

Juan Martin Hernandez, “el Mago”—the magician—the scourge of Ireland in 2007, is ready to derail the Irish train once again, eight years after their last World Cup meeting in Paris. Playing at fly-half, Hernandez slotted three drop goals and caused havoc with his majestic up-and-unders, not to mention his outrageous back-of-the-hand offloads (see video above).

It was performances like this that made Hernandez one of the most lauded and loved players on the planet in the late 2000s. If truth be told, the nomadic Argentine has rarely hit those heights since, but he is sure to bring his skills and flair to the quarter-final.

Nicolas Sanchez may now be Argentina’s undisputed No. 10, but there is only one magician: “El mago” Hernandez.

Jean De Villiers’ Return

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Jean de Villiers, South Africa’s captain until he retired from international rugby following a broken jaw against Samoa, may be on his way back to the 2015 Rugby World Cup.

De Villiers, who won 109 caps for the Springboks, and captained them on 37 occasions, is poised to return to England as a mentor to his former team-mates, according to the Associated Press (h/t Daily Mail).

The centre, whose injuries limited his participation in no less than four World Cups, may have one final say in the direction of the William Webb Ellis Trophy.

Wales: Team of the Tournament?

FRANCK FIFE/Getty Images

Wales stunned everyone at the 2011 World Cup, but making the semi-finals in 2015 would eclipse even those efforts. Making up for a dismal showing in France in 2007, Wales beat Ireland in the quarter-final and were very unlucky to lose 8-9 to France in the semis after playing 61 minutes with 14 men following the controversial sending off of captain Sam Warburton.

Wales in 2015 are having to deal with just as many difficulties as they faced 19 minutes into their 2011 French Test at Eden Park, Auckland.

If Wales beat South Africa to set up a semi-final with New Zealand or France without the services of Rhys Webb, Jonathan Davies or Leigh Halfpenny, Wales will have a strong claim to be team of the tournament.