Argentina 33 Canada 5 Argentina romped to their first World Rugby Classic victory at Nationals last night, running Canada ragged with an excellent display of expansive rugby.

The searing pace of the Pumas backs was the key to their five tries to one victory and though the Canadians enjoyed a purple patch just either side of the interval, they struggled to find a way through the tigerish tackling of the South Americans.

Argentina were worthy winners, proving to be not only the fittest and fastest team, but also the most entertaining.

Victorious skipper Rafael Madero felt his backs' fluid game was the main difference between the teams.

"We tried to move the ball out to the winger and the fullback and get all the team involved,'' said Madero. "We are a good handling side and we did not make mistakes and that is the reason we won.'' Winning the Classic had long been an ambition of this Pumas side, after they had gone so close in the past, added Madero, although he admitted to somewhat unorthodox training methods.

"Bermuda is a very special tournament to us,'' said Madero. "We saw how competitive it was the first time we came and we have tried to get together a team competitive enough to do well.

"Two years ago, we lost in the final, last year we came third and now we have finally won it, so we are very happy.

"We played six or seven friendly games before the tournament, but I wouldn't say we trained very hard. In fact when we train, we usually play soccer!'' And that soccer-type flair was displayed most graphically when Argentina grabbed their clinching try halfway through the second half.

At the time the Pumas led 19-5, but were having to defend magnificently against a series of Canadian attacks.

The move started from behind the Pumas' own tryline after a scrum and superb passing and running took the ball quickly up to halfway.

Winger Pedro Lanza then produced a perfectly weighted kick from the left-hand touchline towards the Canadian posts. Number eight forward Gabriel Estelle showed remarkable pace to get there first and kick over the line before diving to touch down his second try of the night.

Madero converted to make the score 26-5 and effectively end the contest.

Canadian captain Tom Woods said he was satisfied his team had given their best, but they had simply lost to a better side.

"The Pumas are a very good and well drilled side and I think that on any night we would have struggled against them,'' said Woods.

But he felt his players had still been feeling the effects of their bruising 5-0 semi-final victory against the All Blacks on Sunday.

"To be honest, I think we were still licking our wounds a bit after the All Blacks match,'' said Woods. "At our age, I don't think two days rest is enough!'' The Pumas opened the scoring with a try by Estelles in the seventh minute after a short spell of pressure sparked by a brilliant run by Lanza.

Flanker Fernando Conti went over for the second try three minutes later and Miguel Glastra capped a brilliant move with a penetrating diagonal run to grab the third try in the 19th minute, converted for a 19-0 lead.

With the game slipping away from them, Canada responded well with a fine try by Kevin Wirachowski, the forward driving his way through two opponents with a bulldozing five-yard run to pull a try back.

But Estelle's second try, against the run of play, knocked the stuffing out of Canada and Fabian Turnes added the Pumas' fifth try two minutes from time to cap a fine victory.

Skipper Irven October led South Africa to a 25-10 victory over the US in the Plate final last night, scoring one try and setting up another in a fine second-half performance.

After a tight first half which ended 5-5, the Springboks took command and went ahead after a superb run by October made the space for a team-mate to score.

October then went over himself in the right-hand corner to seal victory 12 minutes from time.

Photos by David Skinner Bundled over: Canadian fullback Kane Straith (with ball) is flattened by a typical solid Pumas tackle, as his team-mate, number eight forward Ian Gordon runs up to support.

Classy passer: Pumas scrumhalf Martin Yanguela sets another flowing move in motion after retrieving the ball from a scrum during his side's 33-5 victory over Canada in the World Rugby Classic final last night.