Ever since the draw was made - some time last century - the World Cup was destined to march back in time to pit the All Blacks against France in a Cardiff quarterfinal.

World Cup quarter-final week for the All Blacks means an increasing number are welcoming partners and families after a month away from home.

It's quarter-final week and the mood has changed in the All Blacks' camp ahead of what is potentially their last game of the World Cup.

SBW should start ahead of Ma'a Nonu in the quarterfinal, in the name of trying to break opponents with skill rather than crashing through them, writes Chris Rattue.

The one thing that won't happen this week is the All Blacks being sucker-punched by the unexpected.

This week, Carter took greater responsibility and didn't leave it exclusively to others to probe for space. He was happy to charge, dance a bit and commit tacklers to him.

The All Blacks are heading for a showdown in Cardiff, the scene of their 2007 World Cup exit. Dylan Cleaver revisits that dark day.

Ma'a Nonu's trophies for playing 100 tests for the All Blacks could be seen on his head after the Tonga match in Newcastle.

He has had to be patient but, after the toughest four years of his career, Daniel Carter is finally where he wants to be.

Plenty of people have failed to grasp a simple fact, writes Gregor Paul. The only thing the All Blacks need to do is win.

Nehe Milner-Skudder has almost certainly won the No14 jersey for the All Blacks' quarter-final next weekend and he can't wait.

The All Blacks aren't satisfied with their World Cup form but hope the "real fear" of a quarterfinal exit will spur them on.

For Ma'a Nonu, his achievement in playing 100 tests for the All Blacks could be seen on his head

Chris Rattue rates the best and the worst from the All Blacks match over Tonga this morning.

Kieran Read's form has flat-lined this season and it should concern the All Blacks, writes Wynne Gray.

All Blacks coach Steve Hansen has played a starring role a lip-syncing video that has gone viral.

Nehe Milner-Skudder and Sam Cane lead the way for All Blacks players who stood out statistically against Tonga.

Despite a frustrating first half, the All Blacks managed a win against Tonga with a decent margin - but fans on Twitter were kept on the edges of their seats at first.

If the All Blacks needed a challenge to get going in this World Cup they got it in the first half of this big victory over Tonga.

It wasn't quite the emphatic statement they were hoping for, but the All Blacks did at least run into more convincing form in Newcastle.

Ma'a Nonu has taken to the field for his 100th test this morning, decked out in a custom pair of boots made especially for the historic occasion.

Gallaher wore the famous jersey during the side's tour of the British Isles in 1905 with the team that was known as 'the Originals'.

Join us here for a live chat with Herald expert Wynne Gray following the World Cup match between the All Blacks and Tonga in Newcastle.

But for the All Black players, it doesn't really work like that. There is no hoodoo or curse or anything like that.

All Blacks bet France 8-7 in the 2011 RWC final. Fast-forward 4 years and Hansen and McCaw are again carrying the hopes of a rugby-mad nation.

With the All Blacks playing tomorrow morning, Scott Yeoman looks at seven things you need to know going into tonight.

All Blacks stalwart doesn't want his 100th test milestone to outshine his team's journey.

By tomorrow, there will only be eight teams left at the World Cup and the things that matter will suddenly change.

Richie McCaw became the first All Black to reach the achievement. Tomorrow Ma'a Nonu will become the sixth.