Rugby giants New Zealand and Australia both unveiled their teams for the World Cup quarter-finals ahead of what promises to be the most open knockout phase in the tournament’s 24-year history.

Ireland and Wales will get the action underway in an eagerly anticipated clash between the Celtic rivals in Wellington today before attention turns to Auckland for another all-European tie involving England and France.

But tomorrow is an all-southern hemisphere affair, with the only two teams to have won the World Cup twice, Australia and defending champions South Africa meeting in Wellington before New Zealand play Argentina in Auckland.

“Probably the right eight are left,” said All Blacks coach Graham Henry, bidding to lead New Zealand to a first World Cup title since they staged and won the inaugural edition in 1987.

“France are a bit lucky and you never know what’s going to happen with them. They could come out of the blocks on the weekend and be very difficult.”

“The Irish-Welsh game, I think, will be a beauty,” added the former Wales coach before turning to his attention to the South Africa-Australia confrontation, with the All Blacks eyeing a semi-final against one of their Tri-Nations rivals.

“The Springbok-Australia game, well I hope they knock 25 bells out of each other, that would be great and they all come off buggered.

“There will be some great rugby over the weekend.”

Injuries have forced the All Blacks to again rejig their line-up with six changes to the run-on side to play Argentina.

Full-back Mils Muliaina is set to join wounded captain Richie McCaw, nursing a foot injury, as the only other New Zealand international to play 100 Tests.

Australia coach Robbie Deans recalled full-back Kurtley Beale, wing Digby Ioane and inside centre Pat McCabe from injury.

France have somehow managed to reach the quarter-finals despite losing two pool matches, including a humiliating 19-14 defeat by Tonga last time out.

However, France wing Vincent Clerc said: “Everything’s up in the air and the true World Cup starts now.

“If we can overcome the English, we know we can continue the adventure and have the chance to do something fabulous.”

And England manager Martin Johnson insisted his team could do more than ‘grind’ their way to victory.

“We want to get ball in hand, I think we’re every bit a running team with the guys we have,” he said.