LIKE any good 21st birthday bash this year's World Rugby Classic has had all the main ingredients.

Friends and family from far-flung corners of the globe have made the trip to celebrate the milestone.

Proud parents have taken the congratulations of guests, and absent friends have been remembered fondly.

There has been the odd disagreement among warring cousins, which had to be smoothed over by stern older members.

On occasion the DJ hasn't known when to shut up and let events take their course, and of course, the beer has flowed copiously.

Yes, this year's World Rugby Classic has had everything that a 21st birthday should, and as the tournament has aged so too has the rugby.

In it's formative years this child's birthday was a rather more innocent affair. A select band would gather for one day in Easter and enjoy each other's company.

The teenage years saw a slightly more flamboyant occasion, more friends and family were invited, the party lasted longer, but still retained the feel of days gone by, when the occasion was the important thing.

Now however the child is fully-grown. It has accepted the reality of the world it now lives in and the party lasts a week and the rugby, the rugby, like the child, is no longer recognisable for what it once was.

Where once there was running with abandon, and kicking was positively frowned upon, now rucks are hit with venom, balls are launched skyward at regular intervals, and this year there has even been a drop-goal attempt.

But that came from the American side of the family, and they have always been a particularly uncouth bunch.

Not for the first time in recent years the South Africans have been the dominant force at the party.

After a particularly bruising encounter with the French, they gave their more immediate relations from Australia a lesson on Wednesday night and will, once again, be among the last standing when the party finally winds down early Sunday morning.

Last year the All Blacks stayed the pace, but they have seemed lethargic at times this year, except when they got into a nasty spat with the Americans early on in proceedings.

They will be favourites to push South Africa again, if they can keep the oldest branch of the family from the British Isles quiet.

And so that no-one feels left out there is the consolation prize, a chance to regain some pride in the Plate final.

Having taken out their anger on the Canadians, a nice bunch who always draw a sympathetic smile, the French will face either the Americans or Argentina on Saturday.

Tempers have already frayed with some of the younger members of the Gallic contingent, and after being sent away to sit quietly in a corner, the older members of the party will be hoping that they can conduct themselves in a more seemly fashion as the occasion draws to a close.

Whatever happens, it is sure to be some send-off tomorrow night. The last of the food will be eaten, the last wine bottle emptied, and no-doubt there will be promises made to attend next year.