Argentina must be the bookies favourites to retain their World Rugby Classic title when they take to the field against the South Africans tonight.

The Pumas saw off the Classic All Blacks on Wednesday night by 15 points to five to make it to their second final in a row.

They are brimming with confidence and have had a day's more rest than their opponents, who had to battle all the way against the Classic Lions.

The Springboks ran out 12-8 winners but the match will have left them physically drained as after scoring two quick tries they spent much of the rest of the game on the defensive.

Their physical condition was further diminished by a bout of indiscipline in the ranks that saw them down to 13 men at one point.

The South Africans have never won the competition and English lock Wade Dooley believes they might have to wait at least another year before they do.

Speaking after their semi-final clash, the Lions star said: "I think it's probably taken a lot out of the South Africans so I just hope they can muster enough to hold the Argies.

"The Argies are a younger side and they are playing very, very well. If they are allowed to get it out to those speedy backs I think they'll cause the South Africans a lot of trouble.'' While backing the Pumas, Dooley said you could never write off the Springboks.

"If South Africa do like they did tonight and score a couple of quick tries and if they defend as they did against us, well who knows, it's probably anybody's game. But I think the Argentinians will just be a little bit too strong for them,'' he said.

Neil Redburn and Simon Gabriel, editors of the Classic's match programme, Classical Gas, believe the game could go either way.

"This is a much better South African side than we have seen in Bermuda in recent years. Remember Bermuda beating them in 1998?'' they say.

"It seems Argentina have a more inventive back line, but the South Africans have tremendous speed, not to mention great defensive qualities. A tough game to call.'' South African player-manager, Carel Du Plessis believes his team will have recovered in time to make it an entertaining final.

"Often you go through a tough semi-final and you have to go to the reserves to get the energy and get your body ready for the final,'' he said.

"But we are looking forward to it -- we have a couple of days to recover and that will be enough for the guys to get all the aches and pains out of the way.'' Du Plessis believes in his team's ability, but is not taking the Argentinians lightly.

"I think they are a difficult team,'' he said. "They play a quick open game.

I think that's their strength and we will have to do well to close them down.

"We will have to wait and see but I think it will be a great encounter.'' The first match of this evening is the Plate Final which pits Canada, conquerers of the USA, against the Iberians who just sneaked past hosts, Bermuda.

That game kicks off at 6.00 p.m. and is followed at 7.15 p.m. by the first ever women's international, which is being held between England and the USA.

The grand finale, the Millennium World Rugby Classic final, gets underway at 8.30 p.m.

Canadian wing-wonder, Spencer Robinson is praying the Big Red machine turns on the style in the Plate Final in the same way they did against local rivals the USA.

Robinson was on fire against the Eagles, scoring four of his side's eight tries in the 40-5 victory.

After a disappointing defeat at the hands of the Springboks, the victory over the USA was just what the team needed to boost their spirits and give something back to the mass ranks of countrymen who have cheered them throughout the tournament.

Playing down his role in Thursday night's rout, the 10-cap winger said: "The team played better so the winger gets to do what he is supposed to do which is score tries.

"The team played well and I can get to look like I'm special.'' The Canadians were well fired-up for the match against their neighbours, but Robinson said it was more the manner of their 30-5 defeat against the South Africans in their opening game that had spurred them on.

"It helped that we played so poorly against the Springboks,'' he said.

"That's what really helped. We wanted to play better and we did so it was good.'' Robinson believes the clash with the combined Spain/Portugal side will be a fitting curtain raiser for the main event.

"They are very good team,'' he said of the Iberian debutants. "Hopefully we play just as well. All we want to do is play well and let the outcome handle itself.'' Classic favourites: Defending champions Argentina, seen here during their defeat of Bermuda last Sunday, are tipped to retain their Classic crown against South Africa.