South Africa 21 Argentina 7

If Andries Fourie's strong arm to the face of Frederico Schacht after eight minutes didn't give it away, then Gustavo Jorge shoving Jacques Jonker into a metal barrier five minutes later surely must have done - this was going to be a ‘special' final.

The climax to the World Rugby Classic was special because of the ultra-competitive nature of both teams, it was special because it was anyone's final until the last ten minutes, it was special because exceptional rugby was played by both teams - some of the best for years, so say the Classic regulars - and it was special because the Springboks had to rely on their forwards, not their normally unstoppable backs, to successfully defend their crown in a pulsating encounter.

In a tournament they had dominated for the second year in a row by scoring at will, from anywhere and with consummate ease, the Springboks went into the final as the clear favourites.

But the Argentinians, who had shocked the French in the opening round, were playing with a competitive edge and a mean streak that ran deep enough that punches were being thrown all over the National Sport Centre and they weren't going to allow the wingers any time to try anything.

The Springboks were only going to win this game with the forwards - and once interception tries from Jan Harm van Wyk and Aussie guest Danny Flanery had cancelled each other out - they did so in the latter stages of the second half.

Another guest player, Kiwi Junior Tonu'u went over from the back of the ruck with 15 minutes left as the bigger South African forwards began to grind down the Pumas' heavyweights, and then Cornelius Korf finished it off with ten minutes to go, again after the forwards had done more than their fair share of battering.

After one of the best finals in years, the South Africans lifted the crown that legend Francois Pienaar had lifted the November before, but - typically of the Springboks' ridiculous desire for perfection - they still weren't completely satisfied.

“Hey, we're happy to win, of course we are,” said Mac Massima, one of the flair players of the tournament who won over many fans this past week and celebrated his semi-final try with the most elaborate of somersaults.

“But the guys all know that we could have played better. Maybe we didn't have the side we did last year, maybe we did, but we know we are capable of more.

“But let's not worry about that too much, we battled hard like we always do and the guys played with that special passion that is associated with the Springbok shirt.”

Before they lifted the trophy for a second successive time and third overall, the Springboks formed their usual post-match circle and took a moment for their traditional prayer before erupting into song - with even their four guest players attempting to join in.

The team spirit of the side had been their strength over their three victories as much as their skill, although their centres and wingers are as devastating as any backs to take part in the Classic over its 18 years.

But it was their forwards who can take a lot of the praise for Saturday's win, coming on the back of a demolition of Canada on opening day and then a controlled victory over the brave Lions at the semi-final stage.

“We knew the way the Argentinians were going to play and we were ready for them,” said the hulking Dale Santon, while wearing the broadest grin Devonshire has seen for some years.

“We had the larger pack and we knew we could wear them down eventually and that when they tired, it would create opportunities for us. Fair play to them, they had a great, tough game but we just had enough in the end.

“I am so proud of everyone in our side, we battled hard and we played with passion and fire.”

Just 90 seconds into the final, the first scuffle broke out, setting the tone for what was to be a brutish affair in which the referee could well have dished out more than just the two yellow cards that were eventually brandished.

With not ten minutes gone, Schacht was punished for some arrogant flamboyance. After attempting to head the ball past the last man on a break he was unceremoniously dumped to the ground by Fourie - and his theatrics at the seriousness of the injury were greeted with no sympathy due to the illegality of his move.

Five minutes later, Jorge and Jonker had their first run in, the Argentinian shoving the Springbok full force into the metal barriers in front of the corporate tents with only a miracle preventing that ugly and petulant cheap shot resulting in all out war - Jorge, scorer of two spectacular tries in the semi-final, got his comeuppance later in the game when Jonker smacked him square in the chops off the ball.

Neil Malherbe was sin-binned after 14 minutes and two minutes after he returned to the field, the defending champions opened the scoring when van Wyk, scoring his first try of the tournament, intercepted just five yards out and ran in the easy score.

Twelve minutes later Flanery, one of a number of guest players that traditionally turn out to help with late-tournament injury crises, ran 70 yards after his interception to tie things up at the break.

Tonu'u scored five minutes into the second period and then it was a war of attrition until Korf finishing things off with ten minutes to go - an epic end to an entertaining week of hits, thrills, spills and excitement.

In other matches on finals day, the Golden Eagles defeated the Classic Lionesses 15-10 and France, with the help of some Kiwi guests, took the honours in the Plate final, knocking off Team America 35-26 with some thrilling try-scoring.