The first 40 minutes contained passionate, powerful, confident, deft-footed, risk-taking clever team work from England. The fundamental elements of a dream team. Pounding forward at line-outs and also teasing their opponents with their Tango moves. Just what supporters would have expected against an Argentine side, which hadn’t had a win to its’ name in the Rugby Championship in two years.
England
created several opportunities from the lineout and the defence bore
up fairly well but worryingly, too many penalties were conceded.
First
penalty after 5 minutes from
Farrell took England to 3-0. Quickly levelled by Sanchez 2 minutes
later.
Argentina
then made moves to take control in this tango and 17 minutes in the
scrum forced England’s front row up and they gained a penalty.
Marcelo Bosch kicked successfully in front at 47m, taking the score
to 10-6, but then he is a Sarrie!
Another
coupling from Twelvetrees and Farrell at 21 minutes, took the score
to 17-6 with Twelvetrees employing power to weather a tackle and
score. From a great lineout, Ashton gained a try at 33 minutes with
a brilliant touch line conversion from Farrell. 24-6.
Bosch
then missed a penalty for Argentina after 36 minutes, kicked from a
long way out, it went wide.
At
half time
the score stood at England
24, Agentina 6. The
performance and quality of play at this stage was very good.
The
first try in the second half went to Argentina in the 46th minute
with Sanchez having a shot at goal and taking the score to 24-9.
Concern all round. An uncomfortable and uneasy air hung over the
ground.
Then
the totally unexpected happened, the camera panned around and there was Becks! Becks and his boys in their England shirts
and as he waved, the crowd spontaneously erupted, unified in genuine
pleasure and respect and possibly gratitude.
Sanchez
gained another penalty after the 56th minute.
Score 24-12. Argentina had
more in the tank but what were we doing about it? Although Foden
then won a penalty, Farrell kicked and missed when it bounced back
off the bar. Sad to say, the next significant action happened when
Bosch (unusual choice) missed a penalty at the 73rd minute, then
Morgan scored a try and Farrell converted after the 78th minute
taking the final score to:-
England
31 Argentina 12.
Dylan
Hartley named Man of the Match.
Take
heed, although they could not affect the final outcome, Argentina
were able to show some form in the first half and made play very
uncomfortable in the second. The England backs struggled and the
game was shapeless. Why was Dickson replaced?
Was
it the right decision to put Ben Foden on the wing? It’s a big ask
to reproduce club form in a different position. But with the
injuries to Yarde and Wade at the moment and considering Foden’s
talents in speed and footwork as well as his experience and
flexibility, some would feel that it was. But will this positioning
hold up against the All Blacks? Selection will always be key to successful team building. But teams who play together week in week out can rely on anticipation, expectation and hopefully some circumnavigation. Cherry picked players thrown into a melting pot with a short window to experience each other’s play will always do their best. Confronted with certain teams, the game plan may go out of the window.
I’m
sure I can hear Len Goodman saying ….
‘You
need to come out here with passion, give it some Oomph, flicks and
kicks with precision, work in harmony and give it all you’ve got!’
Fine,
if there’s just the two of you.
The
All Blacks Cometh.