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The shift in mentality in Argentinian rugby will see the Pumas head to Twickenham on Saturday more in expectation than hope as they look to add to beleaguered England’s woes.
Argentina confirmed their position as a major force in international rugby union by finishing third at the 2007 World Cup.
The catalyst for their success that tournament was arguably the Pumas’ 25-18 win over England in November 2006, Argentina’s first victory at Twickenham.
Argentina have this year been invited to join southern hemisphere giants South Africa, New Zealand and Australia in an expanded Four Nations tournament from 2012, a move that can only make the Pumas grow as a rugby nation.
And such is their development Argentina captain Juan Martin Fernandez Lobbe insists anything other than a win over England, well beaten 18-9 by Australia last weekend at Twickenham, will be regarded as a disappointment.
“We still have a young team but Argentina have done a lot of amazing things in the last five years and it gives you the confidence to think we can really do it,” said Fernandez Lobbe at the squad’s hotel here on Monday.
“We are very excited,” the back-row forward, who plays his club rugby alongside England star Jonny Wilkinson at French club Toulon, added.
“It could be a great opportunity to consolidate and make that big step forward and become a solid group and team.
“But we know that what the group (at the 2007 World Cup) achieved was based on hard work. We have the mentality that we know we can do it.”
However, he stressed: “But we know that as happened in June, if we are not up for it, we will have a really bad day.”
Argentina and England tied a two-match Test series 1-1 in June, both countries winning their home games.
Martin Johnson’s side claimed the opener with a convincing 37-15 victory at Old Trafford before the Pumas got their revenge in Salta, 24-22, a week later.
Head coach Santiago Phelan is looking to build on that victory approaching a tour that also sees Argentina take on Wales and Scotland this month.
“The problem is that we don’t have as much competition (as other major nations),” said former Argentina international Phelan.
“We have been invited to play in the Four Nations but from this year until the 2011 World Cup, we will only play in June and November, so every game is very important for us.
“We are trying to keep working on what we did in June, to grow as a team with new players ahead of the (2011) World Cup. This tour will be very important for us.”
Phelan added: “We aren’t coming just to see what happens. I think Argentinian rugby grew up when our best players came to play in Europe – in France and England.
“We will go out and try to play our best rugby – we don’t talk about winning or losing.”
Argentina are missing three of their key players on this tour – fly-half Juan Martin Hernandez, their star of the 2007 World Cup, has a back problem while centre Felipe Contepomi and flanker Juan Martin Leguizamon have knee injuries.
Meanwhile wing Lucas Amarosino, who scored a superb try in English title-holders Leicester’s shock 22-17 win over world champions South Africa on Friday, sustained a calf injury after playing for the Tigers for the second time in three days during Sunday’s Anglo-Welsh Cup defeat by Leeds.
England, under pressure after their loss to Australia, have their own injury concerns but have a strength in depth that Argentina lack.
Phelan remains confident, however, his squad will perform this tour.
“We have a lot of injuries to important players in the team,” he said.
“It’s not good for us not to have Juan Martin and Felipe but we have been working with other players, who are coming in good condition.
“It’s good for them to have minutes out on the pitch. There are a lot of up and coming players so this is a good occasion for them.”
Both Argentina and England are due to name their teams on Wednesday.
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Mr cheese said | November 10th 2009 @ 4:47am | Report comment
Les Anglais vont s’imposer.
England will win this one by 25 points.
Knives Out said | November 10th 2009 @ 7:51am | Report comment
That’s a big call. I’m intrigued. England beat a Hernandez driven Argentina by 22 points at Old Trafford so perhaps a big win is not entirely unreasonable?
Justin said | November 10th 2009 @ 3:11pm | Report comment
If that England side can score 25 points then Argentina have really slipped.
Knives Out said | November 10th 2009 @ 9:27pm | Report comment
England scored 22 points against their 1st xv in Argentina and 37 in England during the 2 game series this summer. However, even some of the 2nd teamers from that series are missing, so we shall see. If Johnson makes the appropriate changes at 9 and 15 then I think England has a chance of a solid victory. That said, better work must be done up front to make a good score a possibility.
alan nicolea said | November 10th 2009 @ 3:34pm | Report comment
England are deserved favourites for this clash, but one hopes the Pumas once again pull another cat out of the bag in a ground that arguably layed the foundations for their 2007 World Cup success. Won’t be easy though. At least the side will give it their all and in the end, that is what counts.
Parisien said | November 11th 2009 @ 9:57am | Report comment
I know England have their injury list, but Argentina missing Hernandez and Contepomi is pretty serious. I give England a small advantage. I will be very interested to see the tactics employed by Argentina, the degree and style of kicking, the counter-attacking … what is the team lineup?
Rowdy said | November 12th 2009 @ 2:24am | Report comment
For a few years now I’ve been hoping the opposition (except the Wallabies, of course) hammer us, so some changes will be forced on the England selectors and/or coaching staff. This has proved a waste of time, however, as even the soundest thrshings just give rise to the usual Must learn lessons, Areas for improvement, We’re rebuilding, Lots of injuries, Take some positives claptrap and then Rob Bl**dy Andrew produces a report 6 months later exonerating himself from all blame and we stumble on the next embarrassent.
So maybe this time I’ll cheer for us – I certainly hope Geraghty, Hodgson, Hartley, Croft, Haskell play blinders so we don’t see the likes of Mears, Ellis, Noon and Tindall looming back, but otherwise, I’m a bit meh, really.
Knives Out said | November 12th 2009 @ 3:53am | Report comment
I hope that Tindall comes back asap. He allowed England to play the way they did during the 6N.
Rowdy said | November 13th 2009 @ 2:06am | Report comment
Disagree, KO. Tindall’s default process is to locate the nearest oppo player and run into him, dying with the ball. If we have to have a bossher at 13, and I don’t agree that we should, then rather someone like Hipkiss, who’s possibly the nearest we’ve got to Tindall ca. 2003-3. In any case, I’d prefer a 13 who looks for the gaps between the players.
Knives Out said | November 13th 2009 @ 2:28am | Report comment
Every time England has looked good over the past few seasons Tindall has been involved. Judging by last week Hipkiss isn’t powerful enough for test rugby. Tindall always takes stopping which creates quick ball and momentum. The same applies to Gloucester. He is experienced, provides leadership and also size.