combined Bermuda/France team stomped back from behind to secure themselves a place in the Plate Final of the World Rugby Classic.

Ross Webber slotted the final conversion, giving the squad a 19-17 victory over England and a berth in the consolation final against Argentina tomorrow.

Celtic Barbarians defeated Canada 38-19 in last night's championship semi-final and will meet New Zealand All Blacks for the title.

Originally intended as a French entry, the squad contains 16 players from the Bermuda side that recently won their fifth Caribbean Championship.

"The team was so up for this game. To come back from the Caribbeans and raise itself again on short notice was a great effort,'' said manager Patrick McHugh.

French left wing David Cazenave got the side on the board first after a blazing run along the sideline. Jean Pierre Garvet converted.

Scrum half Gareth Davies tested the English defence constantly with clever kicks and weaving runs but English prop Paul Rendall scored after a series of penalties on the "home'' goal line.

England scored again when centre Doug Woodman finished off a joint attack by Hew Duncan and Peter Blackett to cross the line.

With the English leading at the half, solid play by Dennis Cherry and Rod Stewart kept Bermuda/France in contention.

But a long pass from wing Sean Kelly was intercepted by Woodman who romped in to score his second try. Mark Harrison converted. It was the last the English would see of the goal area however as Bermuda/France stepped up their attack.

A scrum in the English 22 saw number eight Peter Shillingford's behind-the-back pass find Davies who fed Kelly for a redeeming score.

Then a Webber grubber kick was collected by Scott Correia and he linked with team-mate Mike Gorrie who scored under the posts.

In staving off a strong Canadian challenge, the Barbarians set up a repeat of last year's final.

After the game, captain Michael Bradley quipped: "I'm hoping the golf tournament tomorrow will tire the All Blacks out and maybe they'll lose a few players to injuries.'' In a more serious tone, he addressed those who think the All Blacks have already won. "Remember it's a two horse race. Let's see what happens on Saturday.'' The game became the Mark Ring show as the Welsh fly half dazzled the crowd and the opposition with some deft kicking and inspired running behind a well drilled pack of forwards.

He was complemented by Irish speedster Keith Crossan who scored three tries.

Crossan scored from a pass by Ring in the opening minutes of the game only to have it answered by Canadian scrum half Tim White who scored after a break by centre Tom Woods.

Ring scored next after Bradley broke across field and set up a ruck in the Canadian 22. He scooped up the ball and ran in untouched.

Crossan then scored twice, both times after a Ring chip put the Canadians under pressure, followed by a try from teammate Derek McAleese.

The undaunted Canadians were rewarded after relentless forward pressure saw captain Hans DeXYGoede score but the Barbarians answered with a Bradley try.

The Canadians pressed hard again and centre Jim Delaney scored but it fwas too late as the final whistle blew.