England coach Andy Robinson has insisted Argentina pose just as big a threat to the struggling world champions’ hopes of an elusive win as anyone else they will face at Twickenham this month.
England have lost their last six matches, a run that continued last weekend with a 41-20 defeat by 2007 World Cup favourites New Zealand — the home side’s biggest losing margin in a Twickenham Test.
Later in November, England welcome South Africa — world rugby union’s other tradititional major power along with the All Blacks — to their London home for back-to-back internationals.
The temptation, therefore, for many home fans is to see this Saturday’s match against Argentina as the ideal opportunity for their team to avoid equalling England’s worst sequence of results since 1971/72 when seven matches in a row were lost.
But although the Pumas may lack the history of the All Blacks and the Springboks, they are a growing force within rugby union.
Argentina have won their last four matches against Six Nations champions France. Last year they beat Scotland at Murrayfield and in June won both of their two home Tests against Wales.
”We don’t treat anybody lightly,” Robinson told reporters at Bisham Abbey, home to England’s National Sports Centre.
”Argentina showed when they defeated Wales what a strong side they are.
”They have a unique way of playing the game, they love to maul the ball. They maul it more than any other side does in world rugby.
”At the close quarter ruck and drive, they are potentially the best in the world,” Robinson added.
The Pumas, whose tour continues after Saturday’s match with Tests in Italy and France, are renowned for their forward play.
But Robinson said England would also need to pay close attention to Argentina’s experienced half-back duo of Agustin Pichot and Felipe Contepomi.
”They are two world-class operators and we know how dangerous they are.”
Argentina have won two of their 11 Tests against England, with one draw.
Both their successes came on home soil, a 15-13 win in Buenos Aires in 1990 followed up seven years later with a 33-13 victory when the bulk of England’s first-choice players were with the British and Irish Lions in South Africa.
The Pumas have only twice before played at Twickenham, where 10 years ago they came agonisingly close to a first Test win in England before losing by a mere two points.
Robinson, who was with English Premiership side Bath at the time, has vivid memories of that match.
”Argentina on their day are a quality side. You look back to 1996 when they should have beaten England and they lost 20-18.
England were hanging on in the last five minutes.
”We signed two players for Bath after that performance German Llanes [lock], who took on Martin Johnson, and Federico Mendez [hooker/prop].
”You know you are in a game with Argentina and there are certain things you’ve got to get right. One of those is not to give penalties away.
”If they can get their kicks to touch and get their driving lineout going, that gives them rhythm.
”We’ve got to be accurate, we can’t afford to make mistakes.
Argentina are a tough tackling side and obviously they’ll be looking to put us under pressure.
”We respect the way Argentina play the game and our guys play against them at club level. Two of the standout players for me have been the Lobbe brothers [Ignacio and Juan] at [English champions] Sale.
”I think they have been awesome, particularly the younger one [Juan], I think he has been the stand-out backrow forward in the Premiership,” said admiring former England flanker Robinson.
”I think Argentina have a great way of playing the game. The way they move it around from the mauls, the drives and the pick and go and the offloads to bring the backs in, there’s a lot of control about the way they play.”
Robinson has made just one change to the 1st XV beaten by the All Blacks, with New Zealand-born prop Perry Freshwater set to make his first start after three previous appearances off the bench.
Freshwater (33) now with French club Perpignan after playing for Leicester, replaces Andrew Sheridan who sustained a back injury against New Zealand.
”Perry has been performing well for Perpignan and it wasn’t worth taking the risk with Andy,” said Robinson, who insisted the way the team had fought back from 28-5 down at the break against the All Blacks meant they deserved to retain their places.
”The way the team responded in that second-half was tremendous and we wanted to give everybody an opportunity to put their hand up again for what is a phenomenally tough game.” – Sapa-AFP