All Blacks 29 Classic Eagles 15

There is one inviolable rule in international rugby that stands above all others. It is universally recognised and accepted. And it is this – do not, under any circumstances, make the All Blacks angry.

By all means stand up to them, battle them, hard, for without that you will earn only their contempt. But you never, ever, upset them. Because they are invariably better, harder, and nastier than you think, even if these All Blacks currently in Bermuda are slightly older and slower than they used to be.

Somebody forgot to tell the Americans.

Actually, someone forgot to tell the Americans several things – like the fact that they were only supposed to be cannon fodder, like the fact that there are no drop goals at the Classic, attempted or otherwise, and most importantly, the sensible way of accepting the Haka is to do nothing.

In the past England, France, Argentina have all made the mistake of responding to the Haka, and have paid dearly for it.

So standing in a huddle while belting out the Star Spangled Banner is not a bright thing to do, you might as well adopt the old football chant of: "No one like us , no one like us, we don't care . . ."

To their credit the Americans followed this up by taking the lead when Doug Brown chased down a delightful kick from scrum-half Issac Mbereko as the All Blacks adopted an almost nonchalant attitude to the whole affair. It didn't last long.

Going behind only served to rouse the All Blacks from their partial slumber and they began hitting the rucks like they meant it, making bone crunching tackles that could be felt in the stands and generally doing what tends to come naturally to Kiwis.

Filipe Rayasi drew them level with a well worked try that split the Eagles open, and they went further ahead when a more workmanlike effort saw Neil Foote drive over from close range.

According to the script, which the Americans hadn't read, the game was then supposed to turn into a procession of fearsome All Blacks running. As it was, Lance Vesley was the one doing the running, and his try brought the Eagles level.

It was after Keith Lowen had scored a third for the All Blacks just after half-time that the Americans made their first real mistake, they put in a couple of late hits, good ones, but late. They then had the temerity to score a third of their own, through Louis Tulio, and at 15-17 down were still well in the game.

Having traded tries, the tenacity of the Americans in refusing to lie down finally got to the All Blacks, and after Pailate Fili had extended his side's lead, the two teams began trading blows as well.

It is difficult to say what led to Tulio being knocked unconcious, but the punch from Rayasi was such a beauty that it would not have been out of place in the Calzaghe versus Jones fight last weekend. Down to 14 men, the All Blacks defended with vigour.

Corne Cronje was the next American casualty, dislocating his shoulder while trying to tackle Fili, and in the end the All Blacks had the final say, with Stephen Bachop benefiting from a mistake as with time almost up, the Eagles tried to run it from their own 22.

Classic Lions 14

Classic Pumas 5

While the Americans almost pulled off an upset, the Classic Lions went one better and beat Argentina. In a rather attritional encounter, it took more than 20 minutes for the first points to be scored as both sides struggled with the referee's rather enthusiastic use of the whistle.

The Classic Pumas tried to play some running rugby, and created enough space to have scored a hatful of tries before the break, but they had one of those days when nothing would stick, and whenever they created half a gap they knocked the ball on more often than not.

Argentina finally made the breakthrough eight minutes before half-time when Frederico Bock rounded off a fine move in the corner. They could have gone further ahead before the break, but Allejandro Galli was held up just short of the line by a determined Lions' defence.

Having been on the back foot for most of the first half, the Lions went ahead soon after the restart with Craig Emmerson taking full advantage of a quick tap penalty inside the Pumas' 22 to go in under the posts. Brian O'Meara's conversion took them in front 7-5 and as the game wore on Argentina became increasingly desperate, throwing the ball around, trying to take back the lead.

As a result the game opened up more for the Lions and once Rory Jenkins burst clear, Jason Ashcroft was on hand to score his side's second and give the Classic Lions a largely unexpected win.

Tonight's action will see France play Canada (7 p.m.) with Australia taking on defending champions South Africa (8.30 p.m.).