One of the most important decisions made by Steve Borthwick was the appointment of Marcus Smith at fullback for the match against Fiji. Photo: AP/Themba Hadebe < p>New Zealand produced a brilliant defensive performance to beat Ireland 28-24 in a titanic World Cup quarter-final on Saturday, setting up a meeting with Argentina for the final and ending Ireland's dreams of a first title. peace.
Los Pumas beat Wales twice 29-17 in Marseille to reach their third Rugby World Cup semi-final.
England face Fiji on Sunday before hosting France and the current team. The South African champions will go head to head at the Stade de France.
Here we predict the final two teams to reach the semi-finals. . .
England v Fiji 
Joe Marchant (right) will provide England with stronger defensive cover. Photo: Mike Hewitt/Getty Images Key opponent: midfield
It is the issue of selection that has dominated the narrative this week in English rugby circles. Will Steve Borthwick keep the Ford-Farrell axis, or will one of them start in midfield next to two true centers? The closing stages of a nerve-wracking win over Samoa gave us a glimpse into the England manager's mindset, with Owen Farrell at fly-half and Manu Tuilagi and Joe Marchand out wide, and Telegraph Sport reported this week that Ford would be sacked. to the quarterfinals.
This may be a sensible defensive scenario in the face of the excellent Fijian center partnership of Joshua Tuisov and Vaisea Nayakalevu. Their explosive cocktail of speed, power and reach will cause problems for England, and only a reliable pair of centers can stop it. Of course, losing George Ford is incredibly tough and risky given how the midfielder has performed in Farrell's absence — including leading the win over Argentina with three stunning goals. However, we know that Borthwick is not afraid to back his instincts and make tough decisions.
Prediction
England will knock the life out of Fiji and win by 10.
France v South Africa < img src="/wp -content/uploads/2023/10/0736a120030b2bf08819b480a52ec69d.jpg" />Antoine Dupont and France do well with the ball off the front foot. Photo: Sarah Meissonnier/Reuters. Key competition: line strengthening
On paper, it's a weekend game. The reigning world champions will face the hosts and tournament favorites at the Stade de France. One of them will leave the tournament as no more than a quarter-finalist. For it not to be the Springboks, they will have to put in the same dogged defensive performance as they did against Ireland at the same stadium last month. It wasn't enough that day, but repeating this play without the ball — coming out of the defensive line and vigorously hacking away at the French ball-carriers — would lay the foundation for South Africa's victory.
That's because the key to France's attack is that its big men are crossing the line of play. This is not a particularly revolutionary observation, since all the world's leading offensive techniques excel at this, but with France the disparity is even starker. When they get their big men behind the scoring line and Antoine Dupont dictates and moves the ball quickly, they are unstoppable. But teams have had success against them over the past two years, stopping that. This is a key moment for South Africa. France don't like to play backwards and if they can pull it off, the defending champions will have a strong chance of winning.
Prediction
France, buoyed by cacophonous home support, will win by the slimmest of margins — but betting would be stupid game.
What are your predictions for the England vs Fiji match? Tell us in the comments section below.
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