Argentina 23 Bermuda 22 Saving the best for last Celtic Barbarians brought new meaning to the term as they barely squeezed through to the final of the World Rugby Classic with a hard fought victory over much improved South Africa at Nationals last night.

After stuttering for the most part against physical and determined opponents and trailing 10-7 for most of the second half, last year's losing finalists were finally able to crack a sturdy South African defence with precious little time to spare.

Welsh out-half Paul Turner emerged as the hero in scoring the winning try four minutes from the end of regulation time, diving in following a six yard jaunt as desperation set in.

The score was set up by a mazy 30-yard gallop from Glen Webbe in which the lightning fast wing broke three tackles but was stopped four yards short of the try-line and from the ensuing scrum Turner sprung free for his moment of glory.

South Africa, though, had a final chance to win the match in the 68th minute, but Dannie Gerber booted a 40-yard penalty kick wide left of the uprights.

The first half witnessed each side battling to a virtual standstill, with South Africa matching Barbarians' every move and showing great strength and purpose, especially among the forward line, while their backs enjoyed similar success, shutting down Webbe and Turner as each rarely saw the ball.

Barbarians took an early lead eight minutes on as prop Ian Stephens ploughed over following a scrum three yards out created by John Jeffrey's fancy footwork up the middle. Turner successfully converted for a 7-0 advantage.

South Africa stormed back six minutes later as centre Dannie Gerber bullied his way along the right side, carrying two defenders over the line for an unconverted try, reducing his side's arrears to two points.

Soon after the start of the second half Irvin October produced an outstanding 40-yard solo run, weaving in and out of defenders, but falling agonisingly short of his target, much to the chagrin of South Africa supporters.

Nevertheless, there would be no mistake in the 48th minute as Gerber again was the man, this time going 12-yards untouched over the line after a line-out near the right corner. October though missed an easy conversion for which South Africa would pay dearly at the end.

"It was always going to be a very tough game for us, there's no question of that because South Africa play the same type of rugby as we do and they had a big pack of forwards, but I'm delighted to get through,'' said Barbarians' manager Willie John McBride, well aware that his men had indeed dodged a bullet on this night.

"We made it difficult for ourselves, we put in a lot of loose kicks and we got a little loose in letting them fan across the field, but we tightened it up and came back again, which was good.

"It was a tough game with man for man marking the whole way and there was nothing given and nothing asked for and there were some good hits out there as well. It was a good game and obviously we were delighted to sneak it at the end, but I was a bit worried that we couldn't come back.'' As for New Zealand, who thrashed Barbarians 30-0 in last year's final and who they meet tomorrow in the 1995 version, McBride said that after a day's rest his men would indeed be ready to compete.

"That's going to be another tough one like last year, we'll have a few drinks tonight (last night), relax and rest for the next one,'' said McBride. "They had a tough game last night, we had a tough game tonight, so it's going to be a tough game Saturday again and I think it's going to be the team that comes in freshest that'll come through.

"We're looking forward to playing them now, it's as simple as that, but obviously they've been very good and been running this too much...'' Meanwhile, Bermuda suffered a heart wrenching loss in the preceding plate semi-final, as Argentina, spurred by the accurate boot of Daniel Baetti prevailed by the slimmest of margins 23-22.

Baetti was a one man scoring machine, booting three penalties, two conversions and ploughing in for a try on the night, with the other Argentine score coming from Andres Courreges.

Bermuda got tries from Frenchmen Florent Rossengneux, Dennis Charvet and Geoffrey Abadie along with local Phil Heaney, while Charvet, who was outstanding on the night added a penalty kick.

Argentina are now set to face the United States in Saturday's plate final.