25 Sep 2011

All Blacks qualify for quarter finals

6:57 am on 25 September 2011

The All Blacks have qualified for the rugby world cup quarter-finals with their 37-17 victory over France at Eden Park last night.

The victory, in captain Richie McCaw's 100th test for the All Blacks, means New Zealand will meet the runners-up of Pool B -- probably Scotland or Argentina -- while France look destined for a showdown with England in the quarter-finals.

Earlier last evening England scored ten tries to beat Romania 67-3 in Dunedin.

Meanwhile Fijian loose forward Dominiko Waqaniburotu's World Cup all but ended when tournament officials dismissed his appeal against a three-match ban for a dangerous tackle he made in their match against South Africa.

Waqaniburotu's ban runs until after the quarter-finals conclude, meaning that unless Fiji go on an unlikely run to the last four his tournament has ended.

The Fijians will play Samoa at Eden Park today and Wales on October 2 in Hamilton and must win both games to have any chance of making the quarter-finals.