ARGENTINA v ENGLAND: Argentina 24 England 22:ENGLAND MAY have been denied a series victory against Argentina by the narrowest of margins, but manager Martin Johnson felt able to deliver an upbeat end-of-season report.
It is almost a year since he took charge of a squad beset with problems on and off the field, but England have made genuine progress, winning three of their last four Tests and uncovering exciting prospects in the process.
The defeat by Argentina on Saturday means Johnson has presided over six losses in 11 Tests – but a humbling autumn, when the Tri-Nations sides stormed Twickenham, is fading from the memory.
“We’ve come a heck of a long way,” said Johnson. “We’re in a results business and we’ve lost more than we won this season, but we have made significant strides as a team. I really believe that. We now understand what we’re trying to do on the field. It’s certainly far better than in the autumn. It got better throughout the Six Nations and that was clear in our performances and results, the France game in particular. But generally we’re improving, as is the confidence of the players.
“It was disappointing to lose on Saturday because it would have been great to end the season with a win. Look at the players that have developed and come through this year – Delon Armitage, Riki Flutey, Ugo Monye, Dylan Hartley, David Wilson, Tom Croft, Steffon Armitage, Danny Care and Matt Banahan have all been involved.”
Flutey, Monye and Croft may be with the Lions, but it is Armitage and Banahan who have emerged as the real success stories. Neither was among the 64 names in the England squads announced on July 1st last year, yet Armitage has played every match under Johnson, while Banahan has taken Test rugby in his lengthy stride.
The next task facing Johnson is to select his 32-man elite squad.
“The laws have changed again and that will have an impact on who we pick,” said Johnson. “Some good players are going to miss out because there are only 32 places. But people get hurt and opportunities arise. We’ve said to the guys, ‘Don’t be too worried about not being in the squad on July 1st, worry about playing well in September’. If they do that they’re in the frame for the squad. Their chance will come.”
England could have claimed a precious victory but for some inept defending that reached its nadir with Gonzalo Camacho’s try three minutes into the second half.
Despite being down 21-3, England gradually picked apart the Pumas’ lead through the pinpoint kicking of Andy Goode. Banahan and Armitage expertly combined for the former to score a converted try with a minute to go, but the Pumas pack closed out the match.
GuardianService
ARGENTINA: Agulla; Leonelli (Amorosino, 13), Tiesi, S Fernandez, Camacho; JM Hernandez, Lalanne; Roncero, Ledesma (A Vernet-Basualdo), Ayerza, Alvarez (Lozada, 74), Albacete, Fessia, Leguizamon, JM Fernandez Lobbe (capt). Replacements not used: Orlandi, Carizza, Vergallo, Avramovic. Tries: Leguizamon, Camacho. Cons: Hernandez. Pens: Hernandez 3. Drop goal: Hernandez.
ENGLAND: D Armitage (London Irish); Cueto (Sale Sharks), Hipkiss (Leicester), May (Newcastle), Banahan (Bath); Goode (Brive), Care (Harlequins; Hodgson, London Irish, 74); Payne (Wasps), Hartley (Northampton, Chuter, Leicester, 71); White (Leicester; Wilson, Newcastle, 64), Borthwick (Saracens, capt), Deacon (Leicester; Kay, Leicester, 71), Robshaw (Harlequins, Haskell, Wasps, 52), S Armitage (London Irish), Easter (Harlequins). Replacements not used: Vesty (Leicester), Tait (Sale Sharks).
Try: Banahan. Con: Goode. Pens: Goode 5.
Referee: Alan Lewis (Ireland).
