The Classic Lions and Classic Springboks both made fairly hefty statements of intent as the World Rugby Classic got under way at the National Sports Centre yesterday.

Scoring 16 tries between them the Lions, who thumped Canada 52-5, and the Boks, who beat Classic Eagles 46-14, booked their spots in Wednesday's semi-final when they will face each other.

And while the Springboks played their game at a frantic pace, the Lions were rather more pedestrian during their mauling of the Canadians.

Not that they really needed to be anything other than adequate against some disappointing opposition. And while Canada where briefly level early on, when Dan Harlow cancelled out Gareth Morris' opening score, that was as close as the game came to being a contest.

The Lions ran in seven tries in 40 minutes either side of the break, with Mike Blair, Daffyd James, Jason Forster, James Topping, Derek Eves, Niall Malone and Morris again, all crossing. Malone also kicked five conversions and Dave Scully added another.

Canada might have been able to make a game of it if they had been slightly more disciplined at the break down, or had been able to hold on to the ball through more than a few phases without coughing it up, or knocking on. The Lions certainly gave them plenty of opportunities to get into the game, with a misfiring lineout, and some scrappy play of their own.

In the end though their better scrum and some powerful running from Tongan David Tiueti and James made the difference.

"It felt a lot faster than it was," said Malcolm O'Kelly, "I certainly struggled to find my second breath, but I really enjoyed it.

"And it was great to play with some of these guys as well, some of these guys I used to play with, and guys I haven't played with for 10 to 15 years I'm now suddenly playing with them again.

"It was about finding some rhythm today, and we're not used to the heat as well. I certainly felt the heat more than anything, but it was great fun.

"I don't know all the guys, but some of them are still playing a bit and the guys look pretty fit, and it's great fun."

If the Lions are to repeat their final appearance from last year, they are going to have to beat South Africa on Wednesday, and then will more than likely face either the All Blacks or Australia in the final. It'll be a tough task no matter who they come up against.

"Some of those guys look really good, they have some quality players," said O'Kelly. "They have some big, athletic guys. It's all a bit of fun, but there's a good, competitive edge out there as well."

South Africa will be no push overs, and will probably go into the game as slight favourites following their win over the Classic Eagles yesterday.

The Springboks ran in eight tries through Sasha Marot, who bagged two tries, Blacky Swart, Eugene Marx, Jonno Brayley, Pieter Featherstone, Dale Heightman, and John Du Toit, but they had to come from behind against a US team who were not as far back as the scoreline suggests.

Swart opened the scoring inside the first two minutes as the South Africans, who had Bermuda's Brendan Plessis among their ranks, laid siege to the US line from the off, but after that it was all about the defence of American Mike Harvey, and the running rugby of the Eagles.

Harvey denied Marc Watson an almost certain try when he tackled the Springbok winger into touch inches from the try line, and moments later, a bullocking run out of his own 22 by US prop Dennis Walker finished with Simon Dogbe going in under the posts.

Having stopped a try at one end, Harvey then scored what maybe the try of the tournament, when he turned more desperate defence into a jinking run from inside his own 22, then sprinted past three Bok defenders and touched down, minus a boot, to give his side the lead.

Sammy Gonzales converted both tries and at 14-7 ahead, the US looked well in control.

In the end the Americans were undone by their own ill-timed indiscipline, and the clinical finishing of a South African team that has pace and power to burn.

Marx pulled his side to within two points when he barrelled over from close range after the US were penalised at the breakdown, and Brayley's try, which was converted by Chris Kruger, gave the Boks a narrow 19-14 half time lead.

The second half was much of the same, with the Springboks punishing the US for any indiscretion.

If the Americans had scored first after the break it might have been a different story, however a powerful break by Brayley eventually sent Featherstone clear, and from then on the Springboks pulled away.

Robbie Fleck bashed his way through the US defence to set up his side's next score.

The veteran centre latched on to a short pass from Dion Kayser, and offloaded the ball just short of the line to Marot who twisted his way out of a last-ditch tackle for the first of his two tries of the afternoon.

Even at 29-14 the Eagles were still in the hunt, but they were reduced to making hard yards up the middle by a swarming Bok defence, and the one time that Harvey –threatened to get clear he was hammered into touch by Kayser.

A stolen lineout from Swart led to a try from Heightman, and when Fleck danced through the American line again, and Marot waltzed over for his second try.

The Americans never gave up the fight, but even when Henry Bloomfied barged his way to withing sight of the line they just couldn't get over.

Pieter Meyer finished the game off in style for the South Africans, breaking from the back of a scrum, he shrugged off a couple of tired tackles before sending John Du Toit in under the posts.

While the Lions wait for South Africa, Canada and the US will now face each other in the first Plate semi-final on Wednesday night, with the Classic Eagles the clear favourites to make Saturday's final.

Tonight the All Blacks take on France at 7.15 pm, before Australia battle Argentina at 8.30 pm. Gates at the NSC open at 5.30 pm.