Bryan Habana scored two breathtaking tries as South Africa ended Argentina's glorious World Cup adventure with a 37-13 semi-final win at the Stade de France outside Paris on Sunday.
The Springboks will now face England, who they beat 36-0 last month -- when the holders were without star goalkicker Jonny Wilkinson because of injury -- at this ground in a pool game, when they return here for Saturday's final.
Habana's double saw him equal the record of eight tries at one World Cup set by New Zealand's Jonah Lomu in 1999.
South Africa, the 1995 World Cup winners on home soil, had this match all but won at half-time thanks to tries from Fourie du Preez, Habana -- who touched down again late in the second half -- and Danie Rossouw, putting them 24-6 ahead at the break.
Meanwhile, experienced fullback Percy Montgomery landed all seven of his goalkicks as South Africa made it twelve wins out of twelve against the Pumas, who were appearing in their first World Cup semi-final.
South Africa coach Jake White said that last month's win over England, which was a record tournament defeat for the champions, will have no bearing next Saturday.
"It counts for nothing when you play in a World Cup final. France have been dominated by New Zealand in recent times and ended up beating them in the quarter-final," he said.
South Africa skipper John Smit also said he was expecting a tough challenge from England.
"They've proved a lot of people wrong. They've been playing World Cup-winning rugby in their last two games," the hooker said. "They seem to have got the formula right and there seems to be a good spirit amongst the players. They have done well to get respect and they all work for each other."
Pumas coach Marcelo Loffreda, now set to join English champions Leicester after six years in charge of Argentina, said: "I'm very proud of the players. We don't have the same conditions as other teams, we don't have an annual international competition."
"Nevertheless we were beaten by a greater team. They were markedly better than us and we were victims of our own mistakes," Loffreda said.
Argentina captain and veteran scrumhalf Agustin Pichot added: "All of our players gave everything they had."
"It was an honor and privilege to be captain of a team like this at the end of my career, a team which has achieved impossible things. We didn't get right to the end, we were missing a little bit," he said.
Argentina, who got this tournament off to a thrilling start with a 17-12 opening match victory over hosts France, were undone by South Africa's greater attacking flair and defensive discipline.
South Africa took the lead in the seventh minute with a 70m solo interception try from scrumhalf du Preez, who picked off a pass from inside center Felipe Contepomi.
Then a penalty exchange between Felipe Contepomi and Montgomery left the Springboks 10-3 up.
Felipe Contepomi kicked another penalty after South Africa center Francois Steyn didn't release on the edge of his 22.
However, Habana's potent combination of skill and raw pace saw him score South Africa's second try two minutes later.
Steyn's cut-out pass found left wing Habana out on the touchline where the flyer, after regathering his precise chip over the top of the Pumas' defensive line, outpaced the remaining cover in style.
Montgomery, South Africa's most-capped player and leading points scorer, made it three-from-three and the Springboks had stretched their lead to 17-6.
Worse followed for Argentina when a mistake helped set up a third Springbok try on the stroke of half-time.
Juan Martin Hernandez dropped a ball in midfield.
Steyn seized on the chance and found fellow center Fourie, who released to the onrushing Schalk Burger. The flanker then delivered a try-scoring pass to No. 8 Rossouw.
Argentina then caught South Africa cold with a controversial try early in the second half.
After working an overlap, Manuel Contepomi dived over the line under a challenge from Montgomery.
Referee Steve Walsh asked replay official Tony Spreadbury to check the grounding. From one angle it looked as if the outside center had lost control but Spreadbury, himself an experienced Test referee, confirmed the try.
Felipe Contepomi converted his twin brother's score and South Africa's lead had been cut to 24-13. But he then missed a penalty which, had it gone over, might have rattled Springbok nerves.
Two more Montgomery penalties removed any doubt over the result before Habana, intercepting a Hernandez pass, ran some 80m for a flamboyant try under the posts four minutes from the finish.
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