South Africa v Argentina (37-13)

South Africa will face England in next Saturday night's World Cup Final after scoring a 37-13 win over Argentina in the second semi-final. The Springboks ran in four tries while Percy Montgomery's kicking was unerring as the Pumas never looked able to produce another shock win.
The Springboks profited from elementary Argentinian mistakes to score three first-half tries, through Fourie du Preez, Bryan Habana and Danie Rossouw. Habana applied the coup de grace with his second try five minutes from time and Montgomery finished with 17 points.
Argentina's only try came straight after the interval through Manuel Contepomi but this was a game too far for the tournament's surprise package.

Argentina players were in tears during their anthem and the powerful pack had South Africa under pressure at the first two scrums. But the Pumas conceded too many early penalties at the breakdown and careless errors undermined their promising start.

Argentina were nearly caught when scrum-half Fourie du Preez took a quick tap but his chip aimed at Bryan Habana was just too long and bounced into touch.

The Pumas were mixing up their attack, driving strongly from the lineout while Juan Martin Hernandez was confident to run from fly-half.

Full-back Ignacio Corleto linked well with winger Horacio Agulla, who evaded one challenge and then sent Du Preez sprawling.

Argentina kept up the momentum up with a looped pass from Rodrigo Roncero but they were stung when Felipe Contepomi's pass was picked off by Du Preez, who raced 70 metres to score the opening try after seven minutes.

Hernandez scuffed a drop-goal attempt but Contepomi booted Argentina onto the board after 13 minutes with a 40-metre penalty after South Africa captain John Smit was penalised for obstruction.

The Springboks responded immediately after Argentina infringed at the breakdown once again and Percy Montgomery added to his early conversion.

The Pumas continued to cause South Africa trouble at the scrum but Contepomi's long-range effort drifted wide of the right hand post.

Before Contepomi could strike the ball, referee Steve Walsh spotted the Argentina kicker had been given a rogue practice ball. It was the same problem which affected England yesterday.

Agulla conceded a sloppy knock-on but, with advantage over, Pumas winger Lucas Borges recovered brilliantly to scoop up a chip forward and skip past Habana to surge clear.

Neither side could gain any control or momentum in a scrappy, error-strewn period. The kicking from both sides was woeful, epitomised by Contepomi's kick into touch which went no more than 10 metres.

Contepomi slotted a simple penalty after Steyn was penalised but Argentina could not build any pressure as they continued to make silly mistakes.

Pumas number eight Gonzalo Elia gathered a wayward clearance and charged forward but lost the ball to Schalk Burger and finally the Springboks put together a slick attacking move.

Steyn recognised South Africa had numbers wide left and the ball was quickly swung wide for Habana, who chipped into space behind the Argentina defence and turned on the after-burners to score the Springboks' second try.

And they pounced again after another Argentina mistake, this time from Hernandez inside his own 22.

One of the players of the tournament so far, Hernandez failed to gather a pass from Pichot, South Africa snaffled possession and swung the ball out for number eight Danie Rossouw to stride over for the try, which Montgomery converted.

Argentina had to make a fast start if they were to cling onto any hope in the game - and did exactly that, winning a turnover as South Africa tried a driving lineout deep in their own 22. Hooker Mario Ledesma surged for the line and after being caught Argentina recycled quickly and the ball was swung out to Manuel Contepomi, who stepped inside to beat Habana and stretched to score.

Montgomery made it difficult and referee Steve Walsh was not certain whether Contepomi had grounded it correctly but the try was awarded by television official Tony Spreadbury.

Argentina won another penalty at the scrum and their fans found real voice in the stands - but their lineout was beginning to malfunction and they struggled to maintain an attacking platform.

Du Preez sliced an attempted box kick and, as Argentina recovered, the Springboks were penalised for offside but Felipe Contepomi missed another long-range effort from wide on the right.

Argentina earned another penalty after a promising break from Ledesma and Borges but wasted it when Corleto took a quick tap but found himself isolated. The Pumas were handed a reprieve when referee Walsh spotted a clear forward pass from JP Pietersen, who had sliced through Argentina's defence, and denied Habana a second try in the corner.

Argentina's lineout was falling apart and they continued to concede penalties, allowing Montgomery to boot the Springboks clear.

Habana rubbed salt into Argentinian wounds as he picked off another intercept and raced 80 metres to score his second try of the game.

The match ended with frayed tempers and both sides down to 14 men. Juan Smith was sin-binned for a high tackle and Felipe Contepomi soon followed for a punch on Bismarck du Plessis.

South Africa (24) 37
Tries: Du Preez, Habana (2), Rossouw
Cons: Montgomery (4)
Pens: Montgomery (3)

Argentina (6) 13
Tries: M Contepomi
Cons: F Contepomi
Pens: F Contepomi (2)

South Africa: P Montgomery; JP Pietersen, J Fourie, F Steyn, B Habana; B James, F du Preez; O du Randt, J Smit (capt), CJ van der Linde, B Botha, V Matfield, S Burger, J Smith, D Rossouw.

Replacements: B du Plessis, J du Plessis, J Muller, B Skinstad, R Pienaar, A Pretorius, W Olivier.

Argentina: I Corleto; L Borges, M Contepomi, F Contepomi, H Agulla; JM Hernandez, A Pichot (capt); R Roncero, M Ledesma, M Scelzo, I Fernandez Lobbe, P Albacete, L Ostiglia, JM Fernandez Lobbe, G Longo Elia.

Replacements: A Vernet Basualdo, O Hasan, R Alvarez Kairelis, JM Leguizamon, N Fernandez Miranda, F Todeschini, G Tiesi.

Referee: Steve Walsh (New Zealand)

England v France results

South Africa v Argentina

VENUE & TIME
St Denis, France. Monday, October 15, 5am (AEST)

HEAD TO HEAD
Played 11. South Africa 11, Argentina 0

LAST TIME
November 5, 2005 (Buenos Aires) South Africa 34-23 Argentina

TEAM CHANGES
Yet to be announced but both are expected to field the same sides as last week.

FORM
South Africa has been one of the form teams throughout this Rugby World Cup but having said that it has been troubled by Pacific Island nations Tonga and Fiji. The Boks were odds-on to win their quarter-final last week but Fiji had them on the ropes at 20-20 late in the second half. Only a superb rolling tackle from JP Pietersen saved the Fijians going in front with a try before disciplined play from the Boks saw them score two late tries to seal the match. They have had the upper hand over the Pumas over the years and should go into the match as favourites - not that it seems to count for much in this RWC.

Argentina has been the surprise packet of the tournament so far. From their shock opening win over France the Pumas have strung five straight wins together to make it to the RWC semi-finals for the first time. They possess an astute kicking game and their backline is flamboyant, but that is backed up by a solid pack that will take the game to the Springboks. They will go in as underdogs but they are playing with so much passion it is hard to discount them.

WHO'S HOT
Veteran forwards John Smit, Victor Matfield and Bakkies Botha stood tall when their country needed them last weekend against Fiji. Matfield's inside pass for Pietersen's try was special and their work in the rucks is crucial. The evergreen Percy Montgomery is playing outstanding rugby, while scrumhalf Fourie du Preez and centre Jacque Fourie are also in fine form.

Pumas inside back trio of scrumhalf Agustin Pichot, fly-half Juan Martin Hernandez and centre Felipe Contepomi are playing inspired rugby. The interaction and kicking game of these three has kept opposition defences guessing and allows the Pumas to get on the front foot in games. Up front no one is in better form than big No.8 Gonzalo Longo Elia, who turned in a man-of-the-match performance against the Scots last weekend. Prop Rodrigo Roncero and lock Carlos Ignacio Lobbe are also in fine fettle.

WE THINK
The Springboks should have this one in the bag but that is a dangerous thing to say in this Rugby World Cup. The Pumas will take the game to the South Africans in the forwards and have the backline to score points but we feel they may be so chuffed at getting this far that they can afford to lose and still be happy - the Boks won't - they want 'Bill' and should have too much composure for their Southern hemisphere counterparts.

TEAMS
Likely Line-ups:

South Africa
1. Os du Rant, 2. John Smit (c), 3. Jannie du Plessis, 4. Bakkies Botha, 5. Victor Matfield, 6. Schalk Burger, 7. Juan Smithh, 8. Danie Rossouw, 9. Fourie du Preez, 10. Butch James, 11. Bryan Habana, 12. Francois Steyn, 13. Jaque Fourie, 14. JP Pietersen, 15. Percy Montgomery
Reserves: 16. Gary Botha, 17. Guthro Steenkamp, 18. Johannes Muller, 19. Wikus van Heerden, 20. Ruan Pienaar, 21. Andre Pretorius, 22. Wynand Olivier

Argentina
1. Rodrigo Roncero, 2. Mario Ledesma Arocena, 3. Martin Scelzo, 4. Carlos Ignacio Fernandez Lobbe, 5. Patricio Albaceta, 6. Lucas Ostiglia, 7. Juan Martin Fernandez Lobbe, 8. Gonzalo Longo Elia, 9. Agustin Pichot , 10. Juan Martin Hernandez, 11. Horacio Agulla, 12. Felipe Contemponi, 13. Manuel Contemponi, 14. Lucas Borges, 15. Ignacio Corleto
Reserves: 16. Alberto Vernet Basualdo, 17. Omar Hasan Jalil, 18. Rimas Alvarez Kaielis, 19. Juam Manual Leguizamon, 20. Nicolas Fernandez Miranda, 21. Federico Todeschini, 22. Mernan Senillosa

England v France
Clips from the 87, 91, 95 Rugby world cups.