RUGBY ARGENTINA v ENGLAND:LESS THAN one year ago, Martin Johnson inherited an England team in disarray. Battered by New Zealand on the pitch and the controversial behaviour of several players off it, the team's reputation was in tatters.
Johnson set about re-establishing the culture that helped England win the 2003 World Cup but that had been eroded amid signs of ill-discipline and division.
November offered little respite, as the Tri-Nations sides rampaged through Twickenham. But signs of progress were detected in the Six Nations, and should England prevail against Argentina tonight – completing their fourth successive Test victory – in the second and final match of their series today, their revival will have gathered significant momentum.
The 37-15 victory at Old Trafford last weekend won few points for style, but Johnson has stamped his winning attitude on the team. Johnson’s influence may be growing, but he maintains his is a simple message. “It’s been a difficult year in some ways, but we want to win Test matches,” he said. “I don’t know if that’s the Johnson message; it’s the message about how you win Test matches.
“There is not a Johnson way of playing the game – we will play the way we think we need to play to win the match. It’s not a case of playing one way, it’s a case of realising that in Test rugby you can’t afford to make silly mental errors. If you lose your concentration you will concede points. That’s not the Johnson way, that’s just the way it is.”
Seven tries in two matches hints at ambition, but given that six of those were created by kicks – often executed by Andy Goode – the gameplan is clearly defined. Nevertheless, Johnson insists there is room for some improvisation.
“Within what we’re trying to do, the guys are allowed to go out and make decisions for themselves,” he said. “We don’t expect them to go out there and follow a script to the letter because there would be no point choosing guys with good instincts for playing the game.”
Argentina were smarting after the defeat at Old Trafford. Few sides dismantle the Pumas by 22 points, but just two victories from eight matches since finishing third in the 2007 World Cup is evidence of a team in decline.
Strengthened by the return of hooker Mario Ledesma, lock Rimas Alvarez Kairelis and prop Marcos Ayerza, they will be more formidable opponents in Salta, a city nestled in the foothills of the Andes.
ARGENTINA:H Agulla (Brive); F Leonelli (Saracens), G Tiesi (Harlequins), S Fernandez (Hindu), G Camacho (Buenos Aires CRC); JM Hernandez (Stade Français), A Lalanne (London Irish); R Roncero (Stade Francais), M Ledesma (ASM Clermont Auvergne), M Ayerza (Leicester Tigers), R Alvarez (Perpignan), P Albacete (Stade Toulousain), G Fessia (Cordoba Athletic), JM Leguizamon (Stade Francais), JM Fernandez Lobbe (Sale Sharks, capt). Replacements: A Vernet Basualdo (Stade Toulousain), JP Orlandi (Rovigo), M Carizza (Biarritz Olympique), E Lozada (Toulon), N Vergallo (Dax), M Avramovic (Montauban), L Gonzalez Amorosino (Pucara).
ENGLAND:D Armitage (London Irish); M Cueto (Sale Sharks), D Hipkiss (Leicester), T May (Newcastle), M Banahan (Bath); A Goode (Brive), D Care (Harlequins); T Payne (Wasps), D Hartley (Northampton), J White (Leicester), S Borthwick (Saracens, capt), L Deacon (Leicester), C Robshaw (Harlequins), S Armitage (London Irish), N Easter (Harlequins). Replacements: G Chuter (Leicester), D Wilson (Newcastle), B Kay (Leicester), J Haskell (Wasps), P Hodgson (London Irish), S Vesty (Leicester), M Tait (Sale Sharks).
