Springboks set up showdown with England
Star winger Bryan Habana crosses for his first try against Argentina
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Sunday, 14, Oct 2007 09:59
South Africa will clash with England in the World Cup final after beating Argentina 37-13 in the Stade de France in Paris.
The 1995 world champions clinched victory after tries from Fourie Du Preez, Dannie Russuouw, and a brace from Bryan Habana.
Manuel Contepomi scored the only try for the Argentines whose unbeaten run in the tournament came to an end.
Defending champions England will face South Africa next Saturday in Paris, just over a month after being battered 36-0 by the Springboks in the pool stages.
The Pumas looked drained in the first-half and the Springboks pounced on their blunders to rack up a commanding lead.
The 1995 winners scored their first try when Du Preez intercepted Felipe Contepomi's pass to gallop 70-metres and crash over, with Montgomery converting.
Contepomi redeemed himself by slotting over two penalties, to cancel out Montgomery's effort, to see the South Americans trail 10-6.
The Springboks stretched their lead when Schalk Burger ripped the ball off Gonzalo Longo and offloaded to Habana who lobbed the ball over the defence before crossing the line on 31 minutes.
A minute from the break, Juan Martin Hernandez fumbled a pass with Burger collecting and spreading to Russuouw who touched down to make it 24-6.
The Pumas hit back at the start of the second half when Contepomi squeezed the ball over the line despite the efforts of Montgomery, with his brother Felipe Contepomi converting to reduce the deficit to 11 points.
Montgomery then booted over two penalties in the final ten minutes to stretch his side's lead.
Four minutes from time, the southern hemisphere side booked their place in the final after Habana intercepted a Pumas' attack and raced clear to score his eighth try of the tournament.