All Blacks 12

Classic Lions 15

Brian O'Meara's drop goal less than two minutes from time sent the Classic Lions through to the final of the World Rugby Classic at the National Sports Centre last night.

The Irishman, who scored 10 of his side's points last night, put the boot into the All Blacks just as they looked like snatching victory at the death.

In a frantic closing ten minutes the All Blacks cancelled out David Scully's try with a fine effort from Alex Talea which Tim Walsh converted to make the scores 12-12.

New Zealand then laid seige to the Lions' line but to no avail, and when the Lions managed to get a sight of the posts, O'Meara was on hand to kick the Lions into the final.

"Hit and hope" is how O'Meara described his effort after the game, but for the Lions it exacted a small measure of revenge after they lost last year in similar circumstances.

They will now meet South Africa in tomorrow's final in a prelude to next summer's full Lions tour against the reigning world champion Springboks.

"It was a very tough game, I thought the rugby would be easing up now, but it was very difficult, especially after all the alcohol we consumed during the week," said O'Meara. "It was very enjoyable to win, especially after losing last year to the last play of the game, we're relieved and very happy.

"The All Blacks are very tough and they completely dominated the second half and we were just defending, defending, and when they scored that try in the second half we thought we might be in trouble, but we gave a good last ten minutes, so we're looking forward to a good night and a good final.

"We watched South Africa hammer Australia in the semi-final. They're a super team full of big internationals, but we'll worry about tonight first and then we'll get to the final."

The Lions spent much of last night's semi-final on the back foot, and took the lead after a spell of concerted pressure by the All Blacks.

Last year's beaten finalists had done everything to get through the Lions defence, but were then caught out in their own 22, when a fine offload from Leigh Davies sent O'Meara scampering through in the corner.

The Irishman converted his own score, and for a while it looked like the Lions might even add to their lead, but the All Blacks were not to be denied, and after creating a two-on-one overlap, sent Jeremy Stanley to claw themselves to within two points.

Just before half time Scully cossed to extend the Lions' lead, and after the break the game became a war of attrition, with the All Blacks battering away at a Lions defence that refused to budge.

Talea crossed to draw the sides level, and then came O'Meara and a drop goal that finally finished off the All Blacks' attempt to make the final two years in a row.

In last night's Plate semi-final, Argentina eventually overcame a determined American side 29-14 in an uncompromising game that at one stage threatened to descend into nothing more than a fist fight.

A clever use of kicking saw the teams grab two tries apiece in the first half, with Martin Murgier and Cristian Mendy scoring for Argentina, and Ryan ReBell and Hal Struckman for the Eagles.

Brad Hughes had converted ReBell's try to give his side a 14-12 lead at the break, but that's where the scoring stopped for the US.

An increasingly fractious affair saw both sides reduced to 14 men early in the second half.

In the end Argentina's quality was the difference, and three quick tries from Murgier, Sebastian Crispo and Roberto Grau sent them through to tomorrow's Plate final against France.