Los Pumas win the Rugby Classic

Argentina are the 2011 World Rugby Classic Champions after beating the Classic Lions 25-19 in the World Rugby Classic Finals on Saturday night. It capped a week of Rugby Classic surprises and disappointed a largely British crowd at the blustery National Sports Centre.

The tournament was delayed by two days thanks to Hurricane Sean when the majority of the tents came down overnight last Saturday, but when it kicked off it brought with it some early shocks as favourites South Africa lost to Argentina and Australia went out to Canada, who are normally just here to make up the numbers.

The All Blacks and the Lions had already made it through to the semis convincingly beating the USA Eagles and Italy respectively and I was there on Thursday to watch those two partake in an excellent game with the Lions winning 7-0 after Andy Craig went over for a try which Andrew Gommersall converted. It was a real game of attrition, with hurricane force winds howling around us and it was difficult not to spill a drink as the Lions were cheered on by a large fun-filled crowd.

On Friday in the other semi-final Argentina twice came from behind to beat the Canadians 17-10 in a fantastic match to set up yesterday’s final with now clear-favourites the Lions.

However Argentina were on top at half-time and led 17 – 7 but the Classic Lions scored early in the 2nd half-hour when hooker Gordon Bulloch scored a try and Gommersall kicked the conversion. Then the Classic Lions took the lead when James Topping went over for a try to make the score 19 – 17 but with 7 minutes remaining Argentina took back the lead when Todeschini kicked a penalty to lead by a solitary point and as the Lions pushed Pablo Gambarini leaped over the line for another Argentina try to spark wild scenes of South American celebrations as Los Pumas repeated their 1999 victory. Pass the Malbec.