The two sides who have dominated the World Rugby Classic in recent years will meet in today's final with South Africa firm favourites to retain their title.

Champions in three of the last four years, the Classic Lions are the only side to have broken the Springboks' stranglehold on the competition when they won in 2006.

Still the Lions will go into tonight's game as underdogs against a Springbok side boosting the likes of Bobby Skinstad, Breyton Paulse and Robbie Fleck amongst their ranks.

The defending champions have come through two tough games this week, narrowly beating the French 12-7 in a bruising encounter on Sunday, and then keeping the Australians at bay in the semi-final in an equally physical contest that they eventually won 21-0.

Not that the Lions have had an easy ride, beating both Argentina and the All Blacks along the way. And they have some big names of their own, with the likes of Shane Byrne and Barry Williams in their line-up.

"I think the Classic Lions are going to be tough in the final," said South African Robbie Fleck. "They look quite good, they played well on Monday night (against Argentina), and they had a tough game against the All Blacks (on Thursday).

"They'll be physically prepared for the final as well. Hopefully the semi-final took a bit out of them though."

The Lions, meanwhile, are doing their best to talk up their underdog status with Brian O'Meara, who kicked a last gasp drop goal to beat New Zealand in Thursday night's semi-final, talking up the Springboks.

"We saw South Africa hammer Australia in their semi-final," said O'Meara. "They are a super team full of big internationals, but we can't worry about that. We'll concentrate on the final when we get there."

Not that a game between South Africa and the Classic Lions needs any extra spice, but it will be a nice prelude to the full Lions tour next summer when they take on the reigning world champions.

While this game will have absolute no bearing on those events, early bragging rights will be up for grabs today.

Meanwhile, today's rugby begins with the Plate final between France and Argentina, both of whom were unlucky to get knocked out of the main competition.

It is sure to be a game filled with plenty of running, plenty of passion, and not a little bit of aggression.