France 10-34 Argentina

This was a throw back to those far off days of end of season Barbarian matches at Twickenham, the ones when both sides featured players you actually knew, or those trial matches between the Highly Unlikelys and the Almost Certainly Nots. This was the third/fourth place play-off of Rugby Union's most prestigious competition played in the style of the Hong Kong sevens.

Argentina have beaten the Six Nations champions twice in six weeks in their home city and to be honest they've deserved every point they've got. For quite a few of the Argentina players this was the last hurrah (as they say in the posh papers), the end of the line for a generation denied by old farts in blazers from plying their international trade against better opposition than Brazil and Paraguay. There are more than 400 Argentine born professional Rugby Union players based in Europe and their rugby board has asked the Six Nations to consider letting them enter the competition and being based in Spain. Why not? Italy were allowed to break into the old five nations cartel and the quality of their play and that of the other nations has improved by their inclusion. You just hope that this is the beginning rather than the end of the journey for Argentina and that we aren't seeing the same thing happening here as we did with Holland after the 1988 European Championships when the team of Rijkard, Van Basten and Guillit fell apart within two years.

The passsing, the tackling, the turnovers, the punch-ups! Who said that the bronze medal wasn't important, who said that this was a match too far for the team in celestial blue? Argentina played with a style and panache all the way through this tournament from that rain soaked Friday back in September when they shocked the hosts at the Stade De France. Last night they were playing at the Parc De Princes, the bear-pit of French rugby and they made the bears look all cuddly and non-threatening, that five minute spell just before half time when they defended their own line against wave after wave of French attacking moves was inspired and had me on the edge of my seat shouting "Go on, keep them out," and I'm a Francophile!

So what next for France? Was this just an abomination, a struggle against a team that whilst based in Europe played a style more suited to the Tri-Nations? For many of the French players the Six Nations win was the high point of their careers, they have failed to emulate the football team of 1998 and after a few weeks rest they can resume their careers in the Premiership or the Heineken Cup.

So what about tonight? Well on paper South Africa should win by two tries, at least, they have played controlled rugby without being tested - when they were put under pressure by the south Pacific teams they simply stepped up a gear or two and took control. Andy Gomersall, who has been my England player of the tournament, needs to have the biggest game of his career tonight. If he gets enough good ball and feeds it to you know who I might just be staying up all night with a silly grin on my face.

Come on England!