Scott Quinnell says the backrows will decide Wales v Ireland and backs France to beat England.
Scott looks ahead to the last eight at the World Cup
Wales against Ireland is developing into the game of the weekend with both sides playing some of their best rugby for years.
Ireland may have that little bit extra as far as experience goes but Wales are a young and exciting side that is brimming with confidence.
Wales are been boosted by the return of Shane Williams and Dan Lydiate and I think both of them will play a big part in this game.
Ireland know what a threat Williams will pose - he can strike from anywhere on the pitch and they will have to watch him carefully, George North is probably playing the best rugby in the World Cup and along with Lee Halfpenny, Wales have a very formidable back three indeed.
The Hook factor
James Hook is unfortunate that he picked up that shoulder injury when he did, but by putting him on the bench you have the option of putting him at 10,12, 13 and 15. I think Hook's talents will definitely play a part in this game.
Rhys Priestland has really made the most of his chances at fly-half and has emerged as a key player for Wales - he has a massive right boot that can get them out of trouble and he is a very good distributor too.
I think that the battle of the backrows will decide this one, The Wales trio of Sam Warburton, Toby Faletau and Dan Lydiate are on fire at the moment - and so are their Irish counterparts of Jamie Heaslip, Stephen Ferris and Sean O'Brien. You can see all six of them in a few years' time all going on a Lions tour.
This battle will be immense. Can Warburton get those vital turnovers? Will O'Brien be able to use his incredible ball carrying abilities? Stopping O'Brien is going to be a big job and I think Lydiate will be up for it.
Lydiate reminds me of Richard Hill. He may not have been the guy everyone was talking about at the end of the game but if you played with him or against him, then he was the one all the players were talking about. He does all the unseen work - all the hard work and gets stuck in. Lydiate has impressed me greatly.
Centre combat
The centres is another massive battle - you have Jamie Roberts up against Brian O'Driscoll - the centre partnership from the 2009 Lions tour that worked so well. Now you have them looking to combat each other.
Roberts is partnered by Jonathan Davies which makes it a very big and abrasive partnership. It will be a fascinating battle against O'Driscoll and Gordon D'Arcy. A lot of it will be about distribution and how to bring in the wingers on both sides.
Ireland will be very happy that Rory Best has been passed fit. I watched that game against Australia again and he was immense and for me he was the man of the match. He is very important to Ireland.
I very rarely am convinced that Wales are going to win - but I watched the Fijian game where they totally dominated. After that I was convinced Wales would beat Ireland... until I saw Ireland play Italy!
Ireland are also playing very well and we have got two sides that are bang on form. I just see
Wales winning this one but by no more than one score.
Best of the rest
I picked France to win the World Cup at the very beginning of the tournament.
I have been mightily disappointed by the French in-fighting and the total disarray in their camp. However, we always say that France have one big game in them and they have not had that yet.
In fact, they have been no way near that. I just feel that if one game can bring the whole of France together then it is
a win against their old enemy England.
Dan Carter's injury is a huge blow to New Zealand but if you were Argentinian you would be saying that Juan Martin Fernandez Lobbe not playing is a bigger loss. The Pumas have picked up some injuries and now their talisman is not playing. I think
New Zealand will win and will win comfortably.
Australia are one of the sides that you said at the start were capable of beating New Zealand. But when you look at all their injuries they have had you just feel that South Africa have gained momentum and have got stronger.
The physicality has come back to their game and even without Bakkies Botha I think
their physical presence will be too much for Australia.
