The Saturday RWC quarter finals.

The two semi-final victories by Argentina and New Zealand prove that at the highest competitive levels it’s less about tactics and more about laying your body on the line for your country

I remember the two football World Cup finals of 1974 and 1978, when Argentina beat Holland, the former had players who would die for their country whilst the latter were arguing about money to the end and refusing to board the team bus going to the final.

Ireland will argue that they are the new New Zealand – no longer romantic chokers but world beaters.

Yet they were never in the lead as New Zealand with Savea, Jordan, Beauden Barrett and the much-maligned Cane (24 tackles) all immense.

Both games were gripping and well refereed. Typically, the All Blacks were magnanimous in victory.

Both games were memorable, well-contested and worthy of a World Cup.

Pargie called me after the game. He had bet against Wales and Ireland, not out of any knowledge of rugby but both sides were favourites in a two-sided contest at skinny odds.

He backed New Zealand to win the World Cup at 3-1, having backed France from the outset.