The Autumn Nation Series is proving to be one of the most exciting and unpredictable rugby tournaments in the world, and Sunday’s game proved just that...
After a promising start from England, scoring the first try of the game by Joe Cokanasiga hurtling over the line to take the score 10-6, we had high hopes for our gallant rugby squad. However, the Argentines have been on great form in recent matches, their win against New Zealand in the summer was massive and no matter how hard the England boys fought, it seemed their fate was sealed.
Losing the opening fixture against Argentina isn’t the start Eddie and the team would have wanted to the Autumn Nations Series, but there are some positives we can take from the match. It was great to see younger players get some time on the field and secure their position in the match-day squad, with Jack van Poortvliet having an impactful first touch when he came on to score a breakaway try. A new cap in the form of Alex Coles – a promising young Saints player gives England fans hope for the future and depth in the squad ahead of the 2023 World Cup.
England need to revisit mistakes made in the game in their preparation at Pennyhill Park ahead of Saturdays game against Japan. Certainly, around capitalising on some of the turnovers and opportunities they had. This is something Argentina did a lot better in the match, looking at the stats England made 61 tackles to Argentina’s 157, showing the work rate of the Pumas. With both teams conceding 10 penalties, an area which Eddie Jones will review after the match with silly errors leading to mistakes with Jones commenting, “The penalties stopped our momentum. We weren’t at our best and that’s what we are here to do.”. England conceded 14 turnovers compared to Argentina’s 8.
Argentina are becoming a force to be reckoned with, 11 players in their squad now play in the Gallagher Premiership and it was the first time Argentina beat England on home turf since 2009, showing the importance of such a victory. Julian Montoya recently said that the Argentinian team isn’t built on magic, it’s built on hard work, and we think this showed in abundance at Twickenham Stadium.
Itoje in at No.6 worked, although we missed the large present of Courtney Lawes on the field. Due to injury, it’s unlikely he will be back in time for any of the Autumns, but a rugby team is made up of 15 players, and the rest of the team need to adapt and adjust.
The jury is still out for the partnership between Smith and Farrell and although we are hopeful, they can build and strengthen this throughout the series, only time will tell.
Hospitality highlights
We had three exceptional experiences for the England v Argentina match: The Lock 5, The Gate and The British Airways Rose Garden.
Now we might be a little bias here, but all three were outstanding on match day, delivering hospitality excellence throughout the stadium.
The Gate – Its moody atmosphere and hearty food and drink offerings were a perfect match for the Argentina game. Thick cut sirloin steaks and Argentinian Malbec were of course staples on the menu.
The Lock – Bright and airy The Lock had some fantastic talent in for the match, with the likes of Mike Brown, Joe Marler and George Kruis roaming about the facility mingling with guests, pair that with pitch views and first-class food and drink and you’ve got an experience to remember.
The British Airways Rose Garden – nothing seems to dampen the mood in The Rose Garden, not even an England loss. Notorious for its lively atmosphere, live music and street food, the festivities never stop!
It’s still all to play for in the remaining three Autumn Nations Series matches this November at Twickenham Stadium, and there’s still time to join us, check our availability here.
