This is the seventh Rugby World Cup and the sixth time the All Blacks have made it to the final four. Hayden Meikle looks back on five previous semifinals.
Brisbane, Australia
All Blacks 49 Wales 6
The lowdown: Brisbane? Yes, the organisers of the inaugural World Cup had arranged it so co-host New Zealand played its semifinal across the ditch. The Welsh had already played their quarterfinal in the city, squeezing past England.
But it was a blackwash at Ballymore as the All Blacks scored eight tries to one in an awesome display of power and pace.
The stars: Winger John Kirwan continued his sizzling form with two tries and No 8 Buck Shelford also scored a brace. Grant Fox converted seven of the eight tries.
The scandal: In a scrappy game, rival forwards Gary Whetton and Huw Richards got into a stoush.
Then BOOM - Shelford levelled Richards with a massive haymaker. When Richards regained consciousness, he was the one sent off.
All Black rating: 8/10.
1991
Dublin, Ireland
Australia 16 All Blacks 6
The lowdown: They might have been the defending champions but the All Blacks never looked happy. A powerful all-round Wallabies team led 13-0 at halftime and the game was over.
The star: This was David Campese's semifinal. The Australian winger scored after just six minutes. Then, shortly before halftime, he was heading for the sideline when he threw an ambitious (or ridiculous) pass over his shoulder, with midfielder Tim Horan collecting to score.
The scandal: Many thought the All Blacks were destined to fail because of the bizarre co-coaching arrangement between sworn enemies Grizz Wyllie and John Hart, forced upon the team by the New Zealand Rugby Union.
All Black rating: 5/10.
1995
Cape Town, South Africa
All Blacks 45 England 29
The lowdown: It was a blitzkrieg at Newlands as the All Blacks struck peak form to completely demolish the stunned English.
There was a try virtually straight from the kick-off, and a drop goal from No 8 Zinzan Brooke, as the All Blacks led 25-3 at halftime.
The English bounced back with four second-half tries but they were mere consolations. Oh, and some 20-year-old kid scored four tries on the wing for the All Blacks.
The star: Jonah Lomu. Enough said.
The scandal: Not much in this game but plenty to follow a week later, as the All Blacks succumbed to illness and deliberate poisoning theories were floated.
All Black rating: 9/10.
1999
London, England
France 43 All Blacks 31
The lowdown: Sacre bleu. One of the darkest days in the history of All Black rugby. Yet the game, to the neutral, will be remembered as a World Cup classic. It was all looking so good when the All Blacks led 24-10 early in the second half.
Then bang, bang, bang, bang and the French had kicked two drop goals and two penalties. The All Blacks started to look rattled. The French scored a try. Then another. And another. And then it was all over. Stunning.
The stars: The French forwards were in inspiring form (eventually), but the key factor in the turnaround was first five Christophe Lamaison. He contributed 28 points through a try, four conversions, three penalties and two drop goals.
Most All Black fans have blocked out memories of the game - which is a shame, as they forget another virtuoso performance from Jonah Lomu.
The scandal: Blowing that lead was bad enough. But the recriminations were nasty, with coach John Hart regrettably targeted with some nasty abuse.
All Black rating: 3/10.
2003
Sydney, Australia
Australia 22 All Blacks 10
The lowdown: Always an odd tournament to sum up for the All Blacks. They had a rather unpopular coach, John Mitchell.
They lost influential midfielder Tana Umaga to injury. But they had thrashed South Africa in the quarterfinal. Nothing went particularly right in the semifinal, with the Wallabies out-thinking and frustrating the All Blacks. The key moment came when first five Carlos Spencer threw a poor pass and Stirling Mortlock scored an intercept try.
The star: Mortlock provided the key moment and Elton Flatley banged over the goals. But the architect of the win was halfback George Gregan. You know, the annoying little bloke who screamed "Four more years!" at the All Blacks.
The scandal: Another World Cup failure, another pilloried coach. Mitchell's "journey" went nowhere.
All Black rating: 4/10.