Semi-finals review: The vanquished

Wales and Australia will look back on their semi-finals with contrasting emotions, but both have to face the same, cold reality that they will now have to wait another four years before they have the chance to lift the Webb Ellis Cup.

All that remains for the two teams is the battle for bronze at Eden Park on Friday.

"We have to enjoy ourselves now," Australia prop James Slipper said after Australia's 20-6 defeat to New Zealand.

"There's no pressure and we just need to have a run around. I'm sure Wales have the same attitude because they like to play expansive footy."

Warren Gatland's Wales side went down fighting in their 9-8 loss to France. Mike Phillips' try in the 59th minute galvanised the 14 men of Wales, who played on a sea of emotion after their captain Sam Warburton was sent off in the 18th minute for a dangerous tackle on France wing Vincent Clerc.

Young team

It meant they dominated the last 20 minutes with Jamie Roberts and George North hurling themselves into the French defence, but unable to make the crucial breakthrough against a Les Bleus side that was fierce in defence and rigid in their discipline.

As such, while Wales may have failed in their bid to reach the final for the first time, they can look back on a display and a tournament in which their young team have entertained all rugby fans with their attacking style.

"They like to play rugby and that is what draws people to them," Wales defence coach Shaun Edwards said.

"You see a group of young lads who are fit and have trained well and are dedicated, massively motivated, who just want to play rugby and they want to entertain the fans and they want to give it the best.

"They are everything that is good about the game of rugby. There are no little cliques and they are why you want your sons to play rugby."

By contrast Robbie Deans' Australia were unable to respond to the all-consuming play of the All Blacks, particularly in the open stages of the match.

Richie McCaw's side took an early stranglehold on the match and while they couldn't add to Ma'a Nonu's early try, they didn't look as though they would release their grip and give Australia any chance.

"You want to leave it all out there but it is tough when you don't have the ball," Australia wing James O'Connor said.

Cooper subdued

"They starved us of all the ball. If they play like they did tonight, they will be difficult for France to beat."

Both Australia and Wales had problems with their fly halves. Quade Cooper for Australia and James Hook for Wales were both far more experienced players than their opposite number 10s, but on the night they were unable to show their class.

Cooper's mercurial style was nullified by swarming New Zealand defence that pushed him on to the backfoot and gave him little time to pull the strings. His opposite number Aaron Cruden was well protected and given time and space to dictate the rhythm of the match.

"They obviously targeted him and they targeted him pretty well," centre Berrick Barnes said.

"But as any 10 does, they play well where your team is rolling forward and we couldn't provide that platform tonight.

"Everyone singles him out, they have the whole time, but as a team we weren't there tonight."

Hook was given the nod over veteran Stephen Jones after first choice fly half Rhys Priestland was forced out with a shoulder injury.

He started the scoring on the night with a penalty from the touchline, but then missed two from straighter positions. Such a performance was in contrast to France's makeshift fly half Morgan Parra, who hit three from three to win the match.

Hook was also unable to give Wales good field position with his kicks from hand and eventually came off for Jones early in the second half.

Jones though, also missed vital points when his conversion of Phillips' try hit the post. When full back Leigh Halfpenny went short with a late penalty, it meant that in total Wales missed 11 points on the night.

Kiwi coaches

"If we'd knocked a few points over it would have probably have been the most heroic victory in the history of the Rugby World Cup, but unfortunately we came up one short," Edwards said.

With New Zealand in the final there will be at least one Kiwi coach there in Graham Henry, but Australia and Wales' defeats mean local fans will be denied the chance to see one of their compatriots leading another country in the final.

As such, it means Deans and Gatland are in no doubt where their allegiances will lie when they sit down to watch the final on 23 October.

"Good luck to the All Blacks in the final," Deans said. "They worked hard for this opportunity.

"There is a core of blokes who are having their third crack and you can see that by how they approach their work."