A confident French side take on the injury-hit South Africans in a mouth-watering World Rugby Classic semi-final tonight.

The defending champions started slowly in their opening game against Canada, blaming jet-lag for their failure to capitalise on the 10-0 lead they had built up after just eight minutes.

Although the North Americans ran them to within three points, Les Bleus never looked in danger of defeat and skipper Olivier Roumat believes they will be better equipped to take on the Springboks ? the hot tournament favourites who destroyed the All Blacks in a 91 point try-fest on Sunday.

?We didn?t play rugby the way we wanted to? said Roumat.

?We let Canada play the way they wanted to and that isn?t right. We were tired and jet-lagged and we all know we can do much better.

?When we play the semi-final you will see a much better French team ? we think we can win it.?

The South Africans, whose recently-retired galaxy of stars built up a 36-0 lead half-time lead against New Zealand, suffered a key loss in that victory with centre Brendan Venter picking up a suspected broken leg.

In true Afrikaans fashion, Venter was still able to walk off the field and to the medical tent, but his loss will be a severe blow to the South Africans.Once he was out of the game, the Springboks had less control which played some part in the Kiwi rally that saw them take the second half 31-24.

?These injuries are going to really hit us,? said coach Francois Pienaar, who joked that he may now have to lace up his boots.

?I think it will definitely affect us.?

Pienaar refused to make any semi-final predictions, instead insisting on sticking to mind games and bemoaning his side?s injuries.

But the French are unlikely to be fooled by this and can still expect a tough battle with Joost van der Westhuizen, Jan Harm van Wyk ? scorer of two tries in the opening game ? and Pieter Rossouw still more than capable of causing Les Bleus some serious problems in defence.

In the other semi-final, to be played on Remembrance Day afternoon, Argentina and Australia go head-to-head in what should be a suitably memorable encounter.

The Australians, absent for long enough that the Classic has become significantly more competitive since they last participated, were shocked in the early moments of their tough battle with the US.

In the end, they applied a back-to-basics approach which won them through and they will once again need to call on all their rugby pedigree to overcome a fit, fast and mean Pumas outfit.

The Wallabies have their fair share of big names but a lot of them are a few years out of the game and it may be a case of brain against brawn tomorrow if they are to overcome the South Americans.

Argentina played a waiting game before handing the Barbarians another early exit and will be a formidable force courtesy of big, nasty forwards and a sizzling backline.

?We are looking forward to Australia,? said coach Rafael Madero after he had finished kissing his entire team at the conclusion of their shock win on Monday.

?We play well at the moment and I think we can be very good in the semi-final.?

Tonight?s plate semi-final sees Canada take on the Kiwis, who, no doubt, will be keen to get back to winning ways after their Sunday humiliation.

Tomorrow the Barbarians will be in a similar mood when they take on the United States.