Wood expects "blood and thunder"

Editor

England captain Tom Wood is expecting a backlash from Argentina following their first Test defeat in Salta.

England captain Tom Wood is expecting a backlash from Argentina following their first Test defeat in Salta.

No English team has won a Test series in Argentina since Bill Beaumont's squad drew and won a Test in 1981.

Yet England arrives in Buenos Aires as heavy favourites after their convincing 32-3 victory over the Pumas last weekend.

Wood is leading England in the absence of regular captain Chris Robshaw and having blooded several young talents such as Kyle Eastmond and Christian Wade on tour in South America, Wood believes that England are back on top.

“We recognise a massive hurdle awaits us tomorrow,” said Wood.

“The Argentinians have got their backs against the wall. They are suffering from a bit of hurt pride and everything feels on a grander scale this week. I fully expect it will be a blood and thunder Test match.

“I think people looked upon that last Test as an easy victory because we pulled away early and seemed to score tries with ease in the first half. It was by no stretch of the imagination an easy victory.

“They were very good. They tackled hard, they ran hard and got the offloads in early. It was our defence that nullified them and after 15 minutes I felt they were looking around thinking 'we can't crack them'.

“It was our intensity, the big hits we put in early, which set the tone of the game. Had we not done that, the game would have been very different.

“I felt that was as good as we have been in a long while. If we don't do the same this week – if we go in with expectations of an easy ride – then the outcome will be very different.”