Can England get past France?

Even the most ardent of cricket fans cannot have failed to notice that something pretty amazing has been happening in the Rugby World Cup over the past month and this weekend sees two mouthwatering semi-finals with England taking on France and South Africa facing Argentina for a place in the final.

South Africa struggled a little against Fiji in their quarter-final but they have looked strong so far - hammering England without dropping a single point. Argentina stunned France in the opening game, won their group and have done nothing wrong whatsoever to this stage.

Their match promises to be a tough affair, with Argentina's forwards strong and South Africa's backs having the edge, but forgive me if I concentrate on the first semi-final, to be played on Saturday night, as that's where I believe there could be some value.

France v England
It's hard to say whose performance in the quarter-finals was the more impressive, France knocking out the red-hot favourites New Zealand or England, a 50-1 chance for the title going into their match, edging out Australia for the third time in the last four World Cups.

Both Australia and New Zealand will have been absolutely distraught at their failures.

Australia, for losing to England, who had played terribly up to last Saturday, in what was a repeat of the 2003 final, when Jonny Wilkinson's last-minute drop goal won it for England.

And New Zealand, yet again, for buckling under the pressure of being favourites as they succumbed to France, experiencing misery yet again having been the world's best side by a mile for the intervening years between World Cups.

And Saturday's semi-final at the Stade de France will be as much about pressure as skill as France try to cope with the tag of favourites in front of their home crowd. Their own mental strength has never been that good and there is a growing feeling that they too may buckle when the pressure is on.

England really do have nothing to lose. After their abject displays over the year leading up to the tournament, no one believed they had a chance, but now they are just two matches away from successfully defending their title.

Coach Brian Ashton has no injury worries, which is a rare treat for him and his England team will need no pushing to get ready for what will be the biggest match of their lives, for almost the entire squad.

On their day, France are world-beaters, but they have just as many off-days as on, and 12/5 on an England win is a very big price. France are 1/3 but I can't tip them at that price.

They may well hang on - it really is a 50-50 battle to my mind - but I think England, at 10/11 with a nine-point start, are the bet here. Though they won't be able to overpower France's forwards in the way they did Australia's, they will be hugely fired up and in Wilkinson, they have a reliable boot that could just win it.