England and Argentina are set to meet in Santiago del Estero for the third weekend of rugby’s inaugural Nations Championship. The match, scheduled for Saturday, follows a recent FIFA World Cup semi-final between the two nations.
Historically, the rugby rivalry between England and the Pumas has shown a significant dominance by England. Out of 30 previous Test matches dating back to 1981, England has secured 24 victories, while Argentina has won five, with one match ending in a draw.
Despite Argentina‘s growth in the sport, including reaching the semi-finals of the Rugby World Cup in 2015 and achieving notable wins against New Zealand and South Africa, England has consistently proven to be a challenging opponent. England has won all five of their World Cup encounters, including pool stage matches in 1995, 2011, and 2019.
Even when England toured Argentina in 2013 and 2017 without several British and Irish Lions players, they managed to win every series, securing victories in all six Tests played during those tours. Argentina‘s wins against England have occurred in 1990, 1997, and 2009 on home soil, and in 2006 and 2022. England has won the last five consecutive meetings and 15 of the last 16 Tests between the two sides.
In matches played in Argentina, England has won 10, Argentina three, and there was one draw in 1981. In England, the home side has won nine of 11 Tests, with Argentina claiming two victories.
Anticipation and past encounters
Recent performances for Argentina have been mixed. Following a narrow defeat to South Africa in October, they secured wins against Wales and Scotland in November. The victory against Scotland saw them overturn a 21-point deficit with 24 minutes remaining. However, more recently, they were defeated 47-38 by Scotland in Cordoba two weeks ago and conceded 21 points to Wales in a 35-21 win in San Juan last week.
England, on the other hand, ended a run of five consecutive Test defeats with a significant victory over 14-player Fiji last weekend. This followed a fifth-place finish in the Six Nations and a defeat in South Africa two weeks prior.
The upcoming match also carries a layer of tension from a previous encounter. After England‘s 27-23 win, Argentina head coach Felipe Contepomi reportedly described England flanker Tom Curry as a “bully” and claimed to have been “smacked” by the player in the tunnel. While no further action was taken, the incident is likely not forgotten.
England‘s squad, based in Buenos Aires before travelling to Santiago del Estero, decided not to wear national shirts while in Argentina, acknowledging the atmosphere surrounding the recent football fixture.
Player perspectives on the atmosphere
England wing Tommy Freeman anticipates a particularly intense and hostile environment for the rugby match. He noted the heightened tension due to the recent football semi-final and expects an “angry” Argentina side, ready for a tough game.
England second row Alex Coles also commented on the team’s sensible approach to not wearing English shirts, considering their location and opposition. England back-row Guy Pepper, who has previously played two Tests in Argentina, including his debut in La Plata and San Juan last year, expects a “football-crowd type mentality” from the fans.
Pepper described his previous experience as noisy but noted the ability to silence the crowd by outscoring the home team. He recalled the “rollercoaster of emotion,” where fans would be chanting one minute and then quiet the next. He emphasized the significance of the Argentina tour for the current England squad, particularly as it provided opportunities for younger players while senior players were with the Lions.
This tour was seen as an important step for developing new talent and fostering team cohesion. Pepper highlighted the team’s focus on improving their attacking strategies since that tour, aiming to play both through and around opposing teams, indicating an exciting direction for the squad.
The England squad is committed to concluding their season positively and hopes to demonstrate that their series win against the Pumas last year was a true reflection of their capabilities, as they build towards a World Cup in a year’s time.
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Source: skysports.com
As News-UK's Sports News Writer, Oscar Pennington reports on rugby union, golf and boxing for readers across the country. He built a reputation for sharp explainer pieces on regional sport. He holds a degree in Journalism from Nottingham Trent University and completed an NCTJ diploma. Oscar lives in Nottingham, where he follows the pro golf tour and amateur boxing. “Context is what turns a result into a story.”
