England’s Autumn Internationals got off to the perfect start
results wise against Australia last week but the Twickenham crowd will be
looking for, and can expect, a better showing against Argentina this week as
Lancaster’s men build towards a much anticipated showdown with New Zealand at
the end of this Autumn’s Internationals.
After their trashing of New Zealand last year expectations
may well have been overinflated but barring a humiliating defeat that cost them
what had looked a pretty Certain 6 Nations title in Cardiff Lancaster’s men
haven’t really put a foot wrong and in results terms have been the best of any
of the 6 Nations with just one defeat from 8 tests this year.
Two of those wins came against Argentina in their summer
tour but that came against a squad that was split apart to concentrate on the
upcoming Rugby Championship and as such, bears no relation to the side that
will turn out at Twickenham today – the same can be said for an England side
that was trying out a lot of new faces.
One of them – David Wilson – finally gets a chance after 23
caps off the bench – while Dylan Harley and Courtney Lawes are paired together
with lineout cohesion the aim, and Joe Marler has a lucky break with injured to
England’s top two choices at tighthead both injured. Much will depend upon
Billy Vunipola’s barnstorming runs.
Stuart Lancaster was expected to make very few changes in
the backline at leas for cohesive purposes but injury has cruelly robbed him of
both Christian Wade and Marland Yarde – both of whom ran Argentina off their
feet in the summer – leaving him to go back to the tactic of having two
fullbacks in the back 5 with Ben Foden at the wing and Mike Brown at fullback,
a tactic which should reap more attacking benefits than Alex Goode at 15 and
Brown on the left wing given the Foden’s pace and try-scoring instinct, backed
up with outstanding form for Northampton Saints. Many whined about England’s lack of
creativity last week but unless the rain that’s currently pummelling Twickenham
(this was written at 11.15 this morning) relents then a pack battle that will
be significantly harder than the one that they were able to comfortably win
against Australia looks in the offing and the retained centre pairing of Joel
Tomkins and Billy Twelvetrees looked ill at ease last week.
England are expected to give Argentina a comprehensive
beating but before asking them to pass a 14 point line it might be wise to
remind ourselves of just how far Los Pumas have come. In their two years in the
Rugby Championship they may be yet to win, although they came within three
points against South Africa and were beaten by just a point against Australia
this year.
And while both France and Ireland gave heavy beatings to
Argentina on their travels last year, we can’t forget just how impressive they
were against Wales at the start of their tour last year, albeit against a side
that lost every single game that Autumn. However they do tend to give their
best performance first up in either summer or winter – they won their first
game of the 2010 Autumn Internationals and were dogged in defeat to England
here by just 16-9 for their first game of the 2009 tour.
However, the absence of Juan Martin Fenandez Lobbe and Juan
Martin Hernandez are two huge losses for them – especially Lobbe – and one
senses that England will have enough parity in the pack to make it two from two
so far, even if they don’t pull away as the lines expect them to, although if
the weather relents before the start then the second half handicap of 7 with
Bet Victor is of interest given the quality ready to come on at 60 minutes in
Corbisiero and Cole.
Advice
1 pt England to win by 1-12 points (15/8 Stan James)
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