England leaders open up on Argentina ‘challenge’ after shock British and Irish Lions victory
Los Pumas players celebrating Santi Cordero's try with an inset of Steve Borthwick
England leaders Steve Borthwick and George Ford are relishing the opportunity to take on Argentina early next month, after Los Pumas stunned the British and Irish Lions in Dublin.
Felipe Contepomi’s side, who some bookmakers had at 7/1 to win before kick-off, shocked Andy Farrell’s Lions side in their opening game of the highly-anticipated tour with a 28-24 win at the Aviva Stadium.
That win has sent alarm bells ringing ahead of England’s two-Test series against them next month, made even louder by England XV’s 26-24 defeat to France yesterday at the Allianz Stadium, Twickenham.
England relishing Los Pumas challenge
But, Argentina’s win over the Lions has only whetted the appetite of the England head coach ahead of their match-up in July.
“I think Argentina are a passionate and committed team who can score fast in transitions,” said Borthwick. “They changed their strategy in a couple of areas, and took a couple of opportunities really well and took them quickly.
He added: “It’s a great challenge, and we’re looking forward to it. This group of players are really enthused to go to Argentina and play against a really good team.”
Star fly-half George Ford, who will likely win his 100th Test cap on this tour, is also up for the fight.
“It’s a challenge, but it’s an exciting one,” he said. “They’re a brilliant team, and they showed that last night.
“They’ve always been passionate and physical, but they’re showing some real skill and strike now. Some of the tries they scored last night were really impressive, and how quickly they scored them off transition or a turnover, or even set-piece attack.
He added: “It shows how good we’re going to have to be. We’ve got two weeks to prepare for that first Test, but we feel there’s plenty of good stuff in our game too.”
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Ford was also among the England squad that last headed to Argentina in 2017, alongside the likes of Tom Curry, Sam Underhill and Henry Slade, but feels this will be an even tougher ask.
“Yeah, I think so (it will be harder than 2017), but it was a challenge in 2017. You go to any team away from home, and it’s a different environment out there; it’s an exciting one to play in, too, because they’re a passionate and emotional nation.
“We’re confident as well that we can get our game together over the next two weeks and improve from today. We’re looking forward to a really good Test series.”
England ended that 2017 series with a 2-0 whitewash; however only beat Argentina by an aggregate margin of 14 points.
New-look England
With 14 of Borthwick’s regular squad away with the Lions this summer, it gives him a valuable opportunity to blood in some fresh faces across his match-day team.
This has already been seen in his selection for the England XV squad. Five uncapped players were named in the 23-man squad, with three of those included in the starting XV, while a further six were included in the 36-man training squad.
George Ford calls for England ‘to be better’ after France XV defeat despite ‘great positives’
While the vast majority of players impressed, the inexperience at Test level showed in the final exchanges. England looked in cruise control heading into the final 10 minutes of the game, leading 24-12, however, ill-discipline and errors allowed France to snatch a dramatic 26-24 win in the final play of the match.
But Borthwick still thinks this will be a positive for his new-look group, serving as a timely lesson heading into the Argentina series.
“I’m really pleased with the nature of the contest (for spots in the team),” Borthwick said. “We had a meeting earlier this week about the importance of discipline and how, in Test rugby, one penalty can cost you a Test match; and until someone feels that, it’s all good for a coach to say that, but now that’s happened.
“The guys went out there and played some very good rugby. It’s the awareness of what it is in the Test arena and playing against really good teams, if you make an error or concede a penalty, you’ll get punished.”
“Going into the final 10, we made some mistakes and it’s cost us. While I’m disappointed, I wanted to win this game; that’s the real learning development for our young players.
“After a couple of scores against us, the response to get back in control of the game and tactically for about 55-60 minutes we were very good and dangerous. If you look at 22 entries and the number of tries we scored and penalties that the opposition conceded close to their own goal-line tells us there’s a lot of good in our game.
“While we’re disappointed by the scoreboard at the end of the game and that last 10 minutes, it’s going to be a positive for the development of this young group.”
