The Classic Lions meet the All Blacks in the final of the World Rugby Classic today -- with both teams admitting to feeling the pace.

Lions' skipper Gavin Hastings, speaking after a tough semi-final against Argentina, called on Bermuda to make things difficult for New Zealand in their semi-final to ensure the All Blacks were not too fresh for the final.

The Island team took him at his word -- so much so that New Zealand captain Jock Ross was left hoping for a less open game today.

"The Lions are going to be very, very tough, but hopefully it won't be as fast and fluid as the young guys from Bermuda made it the other night, because I gave that up 20 years ago,'' joked Ross.

"The Lions had a great game against Argentina and we'll be expecting a very hard physical game from them.'' The Lions have progressed to their second final in a row courtesy of victories over the US and Argentina, while the All Blacks have seen off the challenges of Canada and Bermuda.

The pair are meeting for the first time in the competition although the Lions' forerunners, the Barbarians, contested four successive finals against the All Blacks in this tournament between 1993 and 1996.

And last year, when Argentina ousted them with a controversial penalty, was the first time New Zealand had failed to make the final since the first year of the Classic.

But Ross sees no clues on the outcome from any of those statistics. "You can talk about last year's results, results earlier in the week, but when it comes down to it, it's another day and it starts at 0-0,'' he said.

In Classic terms, the All Blacks have undergone something of a rebuilding process recently -- in all there are 13 new faces in the squad this year, including Fiji's Jimmy Damu and Mark Birtwistle, capped 18 times at lock by Western Samoa.

Ross agreed: "Yeah, we've got a few new guys this year -- time does that.

"We came here ten years ago and kept the same team for two or three years, then we had two or three changes each year and then all of a sudden it changed completely. A lot of guys weren't available this time and you can't go on forever.

"There are a few guys who are new and that was a bit of a worry because they hadn't been here before and didn't know anything about Classic rugby.

"It's a different game: it's halfway between real rugby and golden oldies and I'm not quite sure where the line is.'' Today's final is due to kick off at 3.45 p.m. but before that will be the no less intriguing encounters for the Plate and third place.

In the play-off for third place, at 1.30 p.m., Bermuda will hope to continue riding the crest of a wave of recent success when they take on the never-to-be-underestimated Argentinians in a game that should feature plenty of flowing rugby and no small measure of competitive spirit.

In the Plate final, France, who finally awakened from their slumbers to overcome the US in their semi-final, will take on a Canada side who recorded an emphatic 36-14 victory over a disappointing South Africa team on Thursday.

That game is scheduled for 2.30 p.m.