Knockout stage ran from October 8 to 23, culminating in the final at Eden Park, Auckland
The knockout stage of the 2011 Rugby World Cup began on 8 October with a quarter-final between Ireland and Wales and concluded on 23 October with the final at Eden Park in Auckland.
New Zealand were the first team to qualify for the knockout stage, when they beat France 37–17 in their penultimate Pool A game. New Zealand and France re-encountered in the final, that was won by the local team 8–7. This was a rematch of the 1987 final, also in Eden Park and also won by New Zealand. This way, New Zealand got their second title, while France their third final.
For the first time in World Cup history, three teams that finished second in their respective pools qualified for the semi-finals, while South Africa became the second defending champions not to reach the semi-finals after Australia in 1995.
Furthermore, the bottom half of the bracket was entirely composed of the 2012 Rugby Championship teams and the other half was composed of the last four Six Nations champions since the last World Cup.
Bracket
Quarter-finals
Ireland vs Wales
England vs France
South Africa vs Australia
New Zealand vs Argentina
Notes
- This was New Zealand fullback Mils Muliaina's 100th test, the second New Zealand player to have reached this milestone.[5]
Semi-finals
Wales vs France
Notes
- The Welsh captain was sent off after committing a tip-tackle, releasing the opponent past the horizontal off the ground in the 18th minute.
Australia vs New Zealand
Bronze final
Wales vs Australia
Notes
- This was Australian lock Nathan Sharpe's 100th test, the fifth Australian to reach the milestone.
Final
France vs New Zealand
References
- ^ "Fearless Wales repel Irish battering". rugbyworldcup.com. Archived from the original on 10 October 2011.
- ^ "France secure semi spot with flair and power". rugbyworldcup.com. Archived from the original on 9 October 2011.
- ^ "Pocock at the heart of Wallabies win". rugbyworldcup.com. Archived from the original on 26 October 2011.
- ^ "Weepu proves lethal with the boot". rugbyworldcup.com. Archived from the original on 11 October 2011.
- ^ Harper, Paul (10 October 2011). "All Blacks: Muliaina's celebration cut out". New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 22 October 2011.
- ^ "Parra punishes 14-man Wales". rugbyworldcup.com. Archived from the original on 17 October 2011.
- ^ "Awesome All Blacks power to 1987 rematch". rugbyworldcup.com. Archived from the original on 17 October 2011.
- ^ "Donald is New Zealand's unlikely hero". rugbyworldcup.com. Archived from the original on 24 October 2011.
- ^ Kilpatrick, Mike (October 2011). "World Cup Glory for the All Blacks". Yahoo. Archived from the original on 26 October 2011. Retrieved 24 October 2011.
- ^ a b c "23 October 2011 - 21:00, Eden Park, Auckland". International Rugby Board. Archived from the original on 22 October 2011. Retrieved 23 October 2011.
