Having smashed through Fortress Twickenham last weekend, Australia will feel at home tomorrow (SS1, 3.30pm) when they play Wales at England’s HQ.

At stake will be the best of routes to the semifinal, a quiet meander compared to what faces the loser – a match against the rejuvenated Springboks next weekend.

South Africans, to a man, will be quietly hoping for an Australian win. It may be sacrilege to applaud anything Australian, but anyone hoping the Boks crack the last four has to back the Wallabies.

That way, our lot avoid them in next weekend’s quarterfinals, playing the Welsh instead. Wales have built up a nice head of steam, but they’ve been decimated by injuries and have danced a little too long with Lady Luck. They are surely heading for a fall tomorrow, not least because tradition says so. The Wallabies are 10 from 10 in recent history. They are in fantastic form and would be odds-on favourites against the Boks in a playoff game. Here’s hoping Wales do what they are meant to do and bow out as courageous losers, as they so often do against southern hemisphere giants. Two wins in 28 games against the big three under Warren Gatland says this is so.

The other vital game of the weekend is France against Ireland in Cardiff on Sunday (SS1, 5.45pm).

The loser has the unenviable task of playing New Zealand in the following weekend’s quarter-final. Neutrals will be hoping Ireland win on Sunday, for a France-New Zealand match will set the senses alight. France could lose by 30 points just as they could tear the All Blacks to pieces. It depends entirely on their mood.

For New Zealand, such a game would represent the ultimate gut-check. Richie McCaw and his cohorts haven’t exactly stretched themselves so far. A looming game against the Tricolors would surely concentrate their minds.

The winner then takes the high road, meeting the Argentine Pumas, a decent enough side but lacking the all-round class of potential winners.

France haven’t needed to get out of second gear and have quietly built a good momentum. They could be dangerous this weekend, especially as Ireland flattered to deceive against Italy in their most recent game. The Irish have everything going for them, but they lack a cutting edge. If it exists, it best manifest itself on Sunday. Again, this one could depend on which France decides to pitch up.

The Boks have the luxury of watching from afar as Australia and Wales batter each other. They’ll be off playing golf and pushing prams while players from these sides are nursing bruises.

When they get down to hard business on Monday, the mad defeat by Japan will seem a lifetime away. Happily, that result didn’t portend a Springbok spiral, instead flicking a switch in every player.

Against the US, they were confident and cavalier, putting a B-grade side to the sword. In recent times they would have indulged part-timers, but there was an encouraging brutality to their approach.

There are still problems with discipline and backline alignment, but when their nostrils are inflamed and they’re in the mood to rumble, the Boks can be fearsome.

Long may it last.

TONIGHT

NZ v Tonga (SS1, 9pm).

TOMORROW

Samoa v Scotland (SS1, 3.30pm).

Australia v Wales (SS1, 5.45pm).

England v Uruguay (SS1, 9pm).

SUNDAY

Argentina v Namibia (SS1, 1pm).

Italy v Romania (SS1, 3.30pm).

France v Ireland (SS1, 5.45pm).

USA v Japan (SS1, 9pm).