The match: 27-10
After the exclusion of Tom Curry for a dangerous tackle in the 3rd minute, making it the earliest exclusion in the history of the competition according to Opta, no one knows what was going through his mind English people. However, we would be betting on a storm, as this exclusion was added to a flood of bad news – a catastrophic preparation, marked by three defeats including one at home against Fiji, major withdrawals, those of Owen Farrell and Billy Vunipola – who has accompanied the XV de la Rose in recent months.
However, and despite these headwinds, England managed to win (27-10) and in style against a very disappointing Argentina. And if the XV de la Rose has not become in 80 minutes the big team it was four years ago, it is perhaps starting to move forward again, after having made so much progress in recent times.
Aware of its own limitations, England did not develop great rugby in this match without transcendence. So, she relied on the sprawling arms of her captain Courtney Lawes, who scratched several balls and weighed heavily in the rucks, on her defensive discipline and her dominance in the scrum. And to the talent of its opener George Ford (see elsewhere), who illuminated this meeting with three drops (27th, 31st, 37th) including two long distance. She also found a state of mind that she seemed to have lost for so many months, the players increasing the number of hugs, pats on the back and encouragement.
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By scoring three drops against Argentina, English fly-half George Ford achieved a feat that had not been achieved in the World Cup since 2011. We even have to go back to 2003 to find traces of such a performance achieved by a English. At the time it was Jonny Wilkinson (Opta).
Let us also recognize that England only faced a poor Argentine team this evening, incapable of getting out of the opposing pressure, dominated in the scrum and in the confrontation zones, very undisciplined in the rucks, clumsy with the ball in hand. It was only at the very end of the match that she finally managed to break through the English defense, with a try from Rodrigo Bruni (80th). With this victory, England finally reassures itself before returning to Japan in eight days (the 17th, at 9 p.m.), while the Pumas will face Samoa on the 22nd (5:45 p.m.).
The player: George Ford
We thought that only Camille Lopez in modern rugby attempted – and succeeded – drops. But George Ford managed the feat of passing three (!) this Saturday, including the first two almost 45 meters from the posts. This phenomenal success in the exercise, coupled with his 100% performance, allowed him to total 27 points, all those of his team.
The fact: England sees red (again)
It’s starting to become a very bad habit for the XV de la Rose. After the red cards of Owen Farrell and Billy Vunipola during their preparation matches, the English conceded a new exclusion this Saturday for their entry into the World Cup. This time, it was Tom Curry who was guilty of a dangerous tackle, head forward against the temple of Juan Cruz Mallia. First only excluded for 10 minutes, the “bunker” transformed his yellow card into red. His future sanction will therefore be added to those of Farrell and Vunipola, who were suspended this Saturday evening and will be suspended again against Japan.
