South Africa fans get good karma, the Pumas are cheered on by a who's-who of Argentine celebrity, and the ref gets encouragement from his biggest fan.

Right place, right time

Springbok fans were feeling generous even before their side's triumph over Argentina and their march into their second world cup final on Sunday. A young couple, him English, her French, were soaking up the pre-semi-final hype with a cold one in the Heineken tents ringing Stade de France after putting in the Ks delivering pamphlets nearby.

With no tickets to the match they prepared to leave after finishing their tipple when confronted by a group of wild-eyed South Africans, one of whom was waving something furiously in the air. That something turned out to be two tickets to the night's big match which he wafted under the noses of the startled couple before asking if they would like to go to the game.

"Er, yes, how much?" replied the bloke.

"Nothing my friend, they are free for you, if first you tell me which team you support?"

The appropriate response – that not surprisingly did not include a team from South America - was solicited and the couple happily strutted off to take their seats.

High level Puma support

Joining them among the big crowd were some famous Argentine faces.

Spotted in the Stade de France VIP area on Sunday night urging their countrymen on in their first tilt at a world cup semi-final was Juan Pablo Sorin, former Argentina world cup football – as in the round ball code – captain.

The ex-Paris St Germain left back now plies his trade in Hamburg. Seated near him was a former Argentine great of the oval ball game, former Puma captain Hugo Porta who was seen chatting to long-serving former Puma hooker Federico Méndez.

Argentina's top model, Valeria Mazza, was also in attendence. The blonde bombshell added plenty of glamour to proceedings as she sat intently watching the match.

Go the ref

Not everyone in the near-80,0000 strong crowd on Sunday was barracking for the combatants striving for a spot at the world cup's top table.

RWC 2007 IRB referee's boss Paddy O'Brien was among the throng and was overheard cheering on... you guessed it – the man with the whistle, fellow-Kiwi Steve Walsh.

At one point O'Brien was seen to give it the double fist pump when Walsh called one of the teams for an offside infringement that his boss in the stands had spotted.

Number of the day

6 - The number of times a team trailing at half time have gone on to win the match at this world cup - beating the previous record of five times, set in 1987. England, with come-from-behind wins over Australia and France, are responsible for two of the five.

Quote of the day

"I'm gutted to be honest, absolutely gutted. Not just because it's the world cup, but until I went off only Ben Kay (ENG) and I had played every minute.

"In the last four years a lot of people have made a lot of sacrifices and there's been some testing times over the last couple of years. To go through all that and miss out on the world cup final is disappointing. The main thing is to win and no one will be happier than me if we win. It's not the time to be self pitying, you have to be positive."
- Injured England back Josh Lewsey on his disappointment at missing out on playing the world cup final.

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