It's not very often you go into an international weekend as
an England fan with a feeling of deflation.
Expectation? Occasionally. Hope?
Against my better judgement, more often than not. Dread?
Regularly. Numb despondency? Occasionally – often when Andy Robinson was
picking the team. But this weekend
should have been a chance to see one of the most exciting wing pairings in
years strut their stuff in front of an expectant home crowd. Marland Yarde showed glimpses of his speed
and power at the weekend whilst Christian Wade was in phenomenal form for Wasps,
bagging two tries from the half way line in a scintillating display of
acceleration and footwork. Instead,
minor ailments have ensured that neither man will be gracing the hallowed home
of English rugby this weekend, and instead their spots will be taken by a man
who hasn't found international form for 18 months and a full back playing out
of position. Don't get me wrong, I'm a
big fan of Chris Ashton when he's on form, but we haven't seen that for
years. Perhaps now he has had a stern
warning, we may see some sparks fly.
Stuart Lancaster has attempted to quell the feeling of
disappointment of not seeing two of the most exciting young talents in the
English game in the famous white shirt by instilling one of curiosity, as he
changes the entire front row for the match up against the Pumas on
Saturday. Joe Marler is in for Mako
Vunipola, who is injured, with the returning Alex Corbisiero on the bench,
Dylan Hartley steps in for new-father Tom Youngs and, most surprisingly, Dan
Cole is replaced by David Wilson. The
first two changes are semi-forced and understandable, but the latter had me
confused at first – Dan Cole had been the central figure in an utterly dominant
England scrum last weekend, destroying James Slipper and earning 7 penalties in
the process. It was difficult to see why
he was dropped. But then I came to
realise this is a positive change. Cole has
been a fixture in the side for years, and no other tighthead has really been
tested as a starter, and a match against the Pumas represents a more than
significant challenge to anyone wanting to challenge Cole's spot. Plus, Wilson's form has been impressive and
all facets of his game have been improving – Cole is still first choice in my
book, but Wilson has a real chance to put himself forward as a genuine
option. And against the Pumas front row,
there's no better place to test yourself.
The South Americans come into this in what can best be
described as disarray, and worst as a chaotic mess. With rumours of a split in the camp, coach
Santiago Phelan walking out on the eve of the tour and a 40 point hammering at
home to Australia, morale must be low.
The deflated feeling amongst England fans won't have been helped either
by the news that 2 of their truly world-class operators – Juan Martin Hernandez
and Juan Martin Fernandez Lobbe – are injured for the fixture. But in times like these, sides can either
rally or collapse. I know what I expect
to see from them, and Stuart Lancaster's men should be expecting that fiery Latino
passion. There's nothing more dangerous
than a Puma side that has been written off.
As is tradition, everyone has
been banging on about the scrum in the build up to this one – and to some
extent that's right with the calibre of scrummagers they have at their
disposal, but I'd suggest that they have extremely capable players out wide as
well, although they appear to be unsure as to how to bring them into play
effectively at the moment. Their back 3
of Amorosino, Agulla and Imhoff are all proven at top club and international
level, and can be lethal if given space.
That's not to say England don't have threats of their own –
indeed, the competition for places that is developing should ensure that players
are looking to show as much ambition as possible. The vote of confidence for Billy Twelvetrees
should see him demanding ball off the half backs and looking to dictate play
with the authority we've seen for Gloucester.
How effective that proves to be will be down to whether or not Owen
Farrell and Lee Dickson express at least a modicum of understanding, which was
missing last week – but one thing is for sure, they shouldn't lack for front
foot ball, with Billy Vunipola, Wilson and Courtney Lawes lurking about. And that's not the mention the all-Test Lion
tight 5 they have on the bench. Useful.
So, despite the disappointment of injuries to promising
players, perhaps there are a couple of reasons to be hopeful. England are building a genuinely competitive
squad and, if they win – and win with style – maybe there will be some reasons
to feel a little more 'inflated' for the visit of the All Blacks.
England Team News
England have made four changes to their starting XV for
Saturday's Test against Argentina at Twickenham. Leicester prop Dan Cole, who has been a
fixture in the England side since making his debut in 2010, makes way for Bath
tight-head David Wilson. Dylan Hartley
replaces Tom Youngs at hooker after the Leicester man had been away at the
birth of his first child during the week and loose-head Joe Marler replaces the
injured Mako Vunipola. Ben Foden comes
in for the injured Marland Yarde on the wing but Christian Wade is out with a
hamstring strain. Scrum-half Ben Youngs
failed a fitness test on a hip injury on Friday and will be replaced on the
bench by Danny Care.
Starting Line-up: Mike
Brown, Chris Ashton, Joel Tomkins, Billy Twelvetrees, Ben Foden, Owen Farrell,
Lee Dickson; Joe Marler, Dylan Hartley, David Wilson, Joe Launchbury, Courtney
Lawes, Tom Wood, Chris Robshaw (captain), Billy Vunipola
Subs: Tom Youngs,
Alex Corbisiero, Dan Cole, Geoff Parling, Ben Morgan, Danny Care, Toby Flood,
Alex Goode
Key Player
Billy Twelvetrees. Of
course, the game-deciding battles will be up front, but when you're looking at
individuals who need a big game, there is none who stands out more than Billy
Twelvetrees. Well, perhaps Chris Ashton,
but we've been saying that for the last 18 months. Rightly vilified for a terrible missed tackle
on Matt Toomua that led to a try last week, he cut a frustrated figure in
attack as Farrell and Dickson failed to gel.
He needs to focus on bringing Tomkins and his back 3 into the game with
his distribution, as that's what he's in for.
Taking it one play at a time should bring out the best in a player who
has been tipped in some quarters as England's next Will Greenwood…no pressure
then.
Argentina Team
News
New coach Daniel Hourcade has made five changes from the
team crushed 54-17 by Australia in the Rugby Championship. Full-back Lucas Gonzalez Amorosino, centre
Santiago Fernandez and scrum-half Tomas Cubelli come into the side. Amorosino replaces the injured Juan Martin
Hernandez, Fernandez takes over from the now-retired Felipe Contepomi, while
Cubelli has been preferred to Martin Landajo, with both nines playing their
club rugby in the amateur Buenos Aires championship. Maximiliano Bustos comes into the front row
for injured prop Juan Figallo, while a late change sees Eusebio Guinazu retain
his place after Agustin Creevy withdrew injured. Further positional changes see brilliant
youngster Pablo Matera move from open-side flanker to blind-side to cover the
absent Juan Martin Fernandez Lobbe, while Julio Farias Cabello switches from
lock to open-side. Number 8 Juan Manuel
Lequizamon takes over the captaincy.
Starting Line-up: Lucas Gonzalez Amorosino, Horacio Agulla,
Marcelo Bosch, Santiago Fernandez, Juan Imhoff, Nicolas Sanchez, Tomas Cubelli;
Marcos Ayerza, Eusebio Guinazu, Maximiliano Bustos, Mariano Galarza, Patricio
Albacete, Pablo Matera, Julio Farias Cabello, Juan Manuel Leguizamon (captain).
Subs: Santiago
Iglesias, Nahuel Lobo, Juan Pablo Orlandi, Manuel Carizza, BenjamÃn Macome,
Martin Landajo, Gonzalo Tiesi, Santiago Cordero.
Key Player
Juan Manuel Leguizamon.
I've never been the biggest fan of the number 8 at club level – perhaps because
whenever I see him my mind jumps back to his hilariously stupid bombed try for
London Irish – but he does seem to do the business with an international jersey
on. He is a big physical presence and he
will need to be mobile as well to make up for the loss of a man as influential
as Lobbe. We all know about the Pumas
set piece power, but what we need to see from the back row to make them a
threat is speed over the ground and intelligent running lines of Sanchez to
really test the England defence. Keep an
eye out for new Leicester boy Pablo Matera as well – some raw talent on show.
Key Battle
David Wilson v Marcos Ayerza. It's not sexy, it's not glamorous, and some
would say that it's not even entertaining, but there can be no doubting the
crucial battle will take place in the scrum – in particular the arm wrestle
between Wilson and Ayerza. Wilson has a
great chance to stake a claim as a regular starter, but he will have to do it
against one of the best looseheads in Europe.
Wilson hasn't always had it easy when scrummaging against Ayerza at club
level, but the Bath tighthead has made a marked improvement and seems to have
adjusted well to the new laws. His job
will be to hold his ground and ensure that Ayerza doesn't get underneath in,
whilst simultaneously making life for hooker Eusebio Guinazu as uncomfortable as
possible. Easy.
Prediction
The Pumas certainly boast an impressive amount of experience
within their ranks and it's hard to see them putting in a display as wet as the
one that sunk to a miserable defeat to the Wallabies. But, despite the deflated feel in a fairly
unambitious line up, this England side still has the muscle and skillset to do
the business against a Pumas side who must be struggling for form and
confidence. I don't expect a walkover –
but the Twickenham faithful should be expecting a comfortable win, with at
least a smidgeon of attacking finesse this time. England
by 16.
The autumn internationals get underway properly this
weekend, let's see what's happening elsewhere:
Italy v
Australia: Despite the setback of
last week, the Wallabies should have too much class for the Azurri – but their
scrum will have to improve. Australia by 7.
Scotland v
Japan: Japan are developing into a
competitive outfit but it is difficult to see them making too many waves against
a powerful Scotland side. Scotland by 22.
Wales v South
Africa: In one of the games of the
weekend, fireworks are promised at the Millennium Stadium. With two sets of titanic forwards and gifted
backs, this promises to be a nailbiter. South
Africa are well and truly warmed up though, after their Rugby Championship
exploits. South Africa by 5.
Ireland v Samoa: In my view, Samoa have announced
themselves as a top 8 side in world rugby so this will be a tricky – and bruising
encounter – for the Irish. Home
advantage should see them through. Ireland by 8.
Freance v New Zealand: In another traditional thriller, the French look
like they may once again be hindered by some questionable selections from
Philippe Saint Andre. Kiwis too strong. All
Blacks by 10.
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