Eight turns into four! After a weekend of some of the best rugby ever played, can the semifinals live up to expectations? And who will secure their place in the final?!
Read ahead for team lists and previews.
- RUGBY WORLD CUP 2023: Squads | Schedule | Standings | Podcast | Injuries
Friday, October 20
Argentina vs. New Zealand - (Stade de France, Saint-Denis; 9p.m. local / 6 a.m. AEDT / 8 p.m. GMT)
New Zealand: Beauden Barrett, Will Jordan, Rieko Ioane, Jordie Barrett, Mark Tele'a, Richie Mo'unga, Aaron Smith; Ethan de Groot, Codie Taylor, Tyrel Lomax, Samuel Whitelock, Scott Barrett, Shannon Frizell, Sam Cane (captain), Ardie Savea.
Replacements: Samisoni Taukei'aho, Tamaiti Williams, Fletcher Newell, Brodie Retallick, Dalton Papali'I, Finlay Christie, Damian McKenzie, Anton Lienert-Brown.
Argentina: Juan Cruz Mallia, Emiliano Boffelli, Lucio Cinti, Santiago Chocobares, Mateo Carreras, Santiago Carreras, Gonzalo Bertranou; Thomas Gallo, Julián Montoya (captain), Francisco Gómez Kodela, Guido Petti Pagadizabal, Tomas Lavanini, Juan Martin Gonzalez, Marcos Kremer, Facundo Isa.
Replacements: Agustín Creevy, Joel Sclavi, Eduardo Bello, Matias Alemanno, Rodrigo Bruni, Lautaro Bazan Velez, Nicolas Sanchez, Matías Moroni.
Verdict: The All Blacks knocked out many people's favourites Ireland in one of the great World Cup quarterfinals last Saturday, and now they face the task of getting past Michael Cheika's Pumas. Argentina will take inspiration from the fact they managed to secure their first ever win over the All Blacks at Christchurch in 2022, but New Zealand have won their last two meetings and will be looking to make up for their semifinal heartbreak at the 2019 World Cup when they lost to England.
New Zealand make two changes from the side that got past Ireland with Mark Telea coming back on to the wing, after he was dropped from their quarterfinal for disciplinary reasons. The other switch sees Sam Whitelock start and Brodie Retallick named among the replacements. Hooker Samisoni Taukei'aho gets the nod on the bench ahead of Dane Coles. For Argentina, they make one switch - Gonzalo Bertranou starts at scrum-half ahead of Tomas Cubelli. If he comes on, Agustin Creevy will become the oldest player to play in a men's Rugby World Cup semifinal, aged 38 years and 219 days.
This clash of the southern hemisphere powerhouses should be fascinating, with Cheika sure to have something up his sleeve for Ian Foster's All Blacks, but it'll be New Zealand who head into this as favourites.
Tip: New Zealand by 8.
-- Tom Hamilton
Saturday, October 21
England vs. South Africa - (Stade de France, Saint-Denis; 9p.m. local / 6 a.m. AEDT / 8p.m. UK)
England: Freddie Steward, Jonny May, Joe Marchant, Manu Tuilagi, Elliot Daly, Owen Farrell, Alex Mitchell Joe Marler, Jamie George, Dan Cole, Maro Itoje, George Martin, Courtney Lawes, Tom Curry, Ben Earl
Replacements: Theo Dan, Ellis Genge, Kyle Sinckler, Ollie Chessum, Billy Vunipola; Danny Care, George Ford, Ollie Lawrence.
South Africa: Damian Willemse, Kurt-Lee Arendse, Jesse Kriel, Damian de Allende, Cheslin Kolbe, Manie Libbok, Cobus Reinach, Duane Vermeulen, Pieter-Steph du Toit, Siya Kolisi, Franco Mostert, Eben Etzebeth, Frans Malherbe, Bongi Mbonambi, Steven Kitshoff.
Replacements: Deon Fourie, Ox Nche, Vincent Koch, RG Snyman, Kwagga Smith, Faf de Klerk, Handre Pollard, Willie le Roux.
Verdict: England have ignored any talk of this being a chance to make amends for their 2019 World Cup final defeat to South Africa, despite the Boks saying they must surely have "beef" with their team. Steve Borthwick is looking ahead rather than back, while for the Boks, they are looking to win back-to-back tournaments. Rassie Erasmus stoked the pre-game fires earlier in the week by predicting Borthwick's XV, but he got it wrong. Borthwick has made three changes from the side that defeated Fiji with Freddie Steward, Joe Marler and George Martin all starting and Marcus Smith missing out due to return to play protocols.
The Boks have named an unchanged side from the one that knocked out France last weekend and head into this match as clear favourites. But it's England who will be looking to cause a huge upset. "This feels like a new challenge," Owen Farrell said. "This feels like a new opportunity. In four years a lot happens in rugby. We're excited by the opportunity in front of us. We feel like we've changed as a team.
"I imagine South Africa feel like they've changed over four years as well. We understand what the task is in front of is, what a good team we are playing against, but we're excited to get out there."
Tip: South Africa by 6