The All Blacks put aside the massive blow that star playmaker Dan Carter was out of the World Cup yesterday as they led the top eight teams into the quarter-final shoot-out amid a rising injury toll.
A patched-up New Zealand team, also missing star flanker Richie McCaw, overwhelmed Canada 79-15 to complete their pool matches unbeaten as the play-offs were sorted out along northern and southern hemisphere lines.
They face Argentina in their first sudden-death game next weekend in their quest to end a 24-year World Cup drought without talismanic fly-half Carter who suffered a serious groin injury during kicking practice.
Australia were confirmed as quarter-finalists to play South Africa after Ireland dashed Italy’s hopes of squeaking into the play-offs which left the Irish with an encounter against a Wales side growing in confidence.
England play a struggling France who qualify despite a shock loss to Tonga.
Carter, who was to have captained the All Blacks in the absence of McCaw who has suffered a recurrence of a foot injury, was ruled out just hours before kick-off.
He joined a growing list of players sidelined in the gruelling six-week tournament with South Africa and Australia rushing in replacements to prop up their injury-depleted sides, and England sweating on the fitness of Jonny Wilkinson.
“Obviously it’s a tragedy but we just need to show strength in this situation,” said coach Graham Henry.
England have a cloud over Wilkinson and Mike Tindall who were injured in their narrow win over Scotland, French centre Aurelien Rougerie has a serious shoulder injury and Argentina’s inspirational Felipe Contepomi continues to struggle with a rib injury.
Argentina confirmed their entry into the play-offs, and finished second to England in Pool B ahead of Scotland, when they made heavy work of beating Georgia 25-7.
Wales finished second in Pool D behind South Africa with a 66-0 win over Fiji, scoring nine tries in wet conditions to suggest they are hitting form at the perfect time.
Ireland buried their poor form going into the tournament by beating Italy 36-6 to finish top of Pool C in a result that consigned Australia to play South Africa.
Yesterday’s results: Ireland vs Italy 36-6; Wales vs Fiji 66-0; New Zealand vs Canada 79-15; Argen-tina vs Georgia 25-7.
Quarter-finals: Ireland vs Wales; England vs France; South Africa vs Australia; New Zealand vs Argentina.