<<<Caution Spoilers>>>

Here I am in the Occidental pub in Wellington ready for the second semifinal between Argentina and South Africa. In order to get an accurate prediction I put 15 Springboks and 15 Pumas (or mountain lions) in a cage. After an initial bit of trepidation the Pumas came out the bloody victors, as such, my money is on Argentina as long as at least one of their team is a big cat. (To those pedants, yes, I am aware that the cat in the above picture is an African leopard but the Argentinean logo features a jaguar not a puma anyway).

I remember the last game I watched here also featured Argentina. That time it was a close loss to New Zealand. Then there was some weird guy in a cloth cap urging the ABs on with weird heavy breathing.

I love how the Argentinean national anthem has a 5 min instrumental

I'm joined by Triple T

Schalk Burger slips over to a great many laughs in the pub. (Still no word from our South African readers on how to pronounce his name though. TV3 is saying "Skulk")

And now we are joined by Stephen

Goodness gracious du Preez is quick! South Africa is pretty good at those intercept tries. My suggestion to Argentina: don't pass it.

Hamish McKay exclaims how that try was completely against the run of play. Yes Hamish, interceptions usually are.

Sorry for the break in commentary. I was eating my brekkie, I don't recommend the scrambled eggs. While I was away AJ Whetton called the South African pack "mental". And the teams traded penalties.

Jeez Argentina play some exciting rugby. Bryan Habana is going to have to do a lot more than he has recently to win player of the year.

Steve Walsh calls advantage over and then, goes back for the advantage. Good call Barnes...I mean Walsh.

Habana scores a fast solo try, again its against the run of play. My advice to Argentina: let South Africa keep the ball, that way they are less likely to score.

Omar Hassan Jalil has come on for Argentina: Stephen said he played for Wellington. I'm gonna look that up later. - (UPDATE: Turns out Stephen was right, he played for Wellington  back in 2000ish. Omar is also a Baritone, loves Opera and is finishing his debut album in which opera is mixed with Tango and elements from Argentine folk music.)

Another try against the run of play. Seriously Agentina, you don't want the ball.

Second Half

We've started joking about how fat Os du Rant used to be. How fat was he? He was so fat that he affected the tides.

After we talked the third umpire out of awarding the try to Argentina he gives it anyway, (we were sure it was a knock on).

South Africa say screw you to "big brother" and take out a sideline camera man, to great cheers from the crowd here.

Steve Walsh really should call off his trip to the Pampas. His calls of advantage are very short and make no sense after Argentina lose it after only making two metres.

That's game over for the Argies. Habana scores his second break-out try.

I'm off to work.

added later - While I'm waiting to pay the Argentinean frustrations begin to grow and a small fight breaks out after a South African high tackle. Walsh sends off Juan Smith for the tackle but he really should've sent off Burger instead for charging in. Actually what he should've done is send off half a dozen of each team then let them play "sevens".

A bit after that Contepomi gets really fed up and back hand smacks a Springbok. For which he is sent off. When the final whistle blows the Argentineans are not as disappointed as, say, the French were. Contepomi comes running out and hugs Burger and there is some communication between the two that looks like "I'm sorry about, no hard feelings". Wow that's good to see. There is a clear difference between an Athlete and a Sportsman (or woman).