England director of rugby Rob Andrew believes Australia and New Zealand failed to progress past the World Cup quarter-finals because they had not been properly tested in the group stages.

Australia were stunned 12-10 by England in the first of the last eight games while France upset tournament favourites New Zealand 20-18 later on a day Andrew described as "the most dramatic in rugby history".

Both the Wallabies and All Blacks sailed through their pool games, unlike England and France who each suffered a defeat and therefore had to win all their remaining matches.

France were beaten by Argentina on the opening evening of the tournament while England went down heavily to South Africa in their second pool game.

"If you look at Australia and New Zealand before the quarter finals, neither had had a pressure game," Andrew said in his column on RFU.com.

"Both had been in the World Cup for four weeks at that point and not faced a difficult match. This does lead to problems for the players.

"Now compare that with England, who had three knock out matches in three weeks. From the Friday night of the South Africa game, the whole team, management and players, had been under enormous pressure and that can work in one of two ways.

"It can be so difficult that you can't cope. Or it can mean you find out how good people are under pressure, some shy away, some embrace it.

"For the last three weeks, we have had a group of coaches and players who have embraced that pressure.

"And look at the French. They deserve enormous credit too. They've had the same issues to deal with as us after fluffing their lines on opening night.

"On Saturday our guys were under pressure and incredibly hungry, as were the French.

"Here's another interesting concept: all four semi-finalists have come out of two pools - the two most difficult pools."

Andrew also feels that the English domestic game - so often criticised for the demands it places on the players - means that England are better prepared for the pressures of knock-out rugby than their counterparts in the southern hemisphere.

"There's been a lot of talk recently about England coming through battle hardened as a result of the pool stages," added Andrew.

"But perhaps this is also a by product of the English system. The very aspect that can be a weakness at times could, in a World Cup, be a strength.

"Of course it works against us at certain times and taken too far it can result in overplaying and injury, as has sometimes been the case during the Six Nations when players are playing internationals with club matches in between.

"But when it comes to a World Cup maybe it works in our favour.

"We know our players are used to playing in pressure situations. Relegation and promotion are also part of that and we've all lived with it, experienced it and as coaches and players we understand how to deal with it."

England face France at the Stade de France in the first semi-final on Saturday evening.

Terence O'Rorke / Eurosport