By Ed Budge
November 13 2009

England v Argentina November 2009 - Match Preview. He is back folks Ed Budge of course! Here to entertain you in his usual style with his slant on what needs to be done with England Rugby. Big Thank you to Ed for this match preview.

England vs. Argentina

Twickenham 14^th November 2009  

Match Preview

Martin Johnson has a very straightforward manner about him; he always has. Since assuming the job of England Team Manager, he has preached a bottom line philosophy, refusing to be distracted by petty ephemera and meaningless buzzwords like “performance”. Test Rugby is about the numbers on the board after 80 minutes, and everything else can take a seat while the real men are working. Results are King.

So, it’s become almost too easy to ask, Mr. Johnson. Where are they? Johnson’s record as the big cheese is pathetic. While the apologists will point to an injury crisis, and the misguided to the light at the end of the tunnel that is Jonny Wilkinson’s return to fitness, some are less easily placated.

This weekend’s match-up against Argentina would fall squarely into the painfully hackneyed “must win” category for any other England boss - it was defeat in this fixture three years ago that effectively cost Andy Robinson his job. But from an English perspective, it is the lack of urgency coming from their camp as well as the significance of the fixture for their opponents that should cause considerable worry leading up to Saturday.

This is Argentina ’s first game since their admission to the Tri-Nations was announced and, with their squad as depleted as England ’s if not more, a win would be a huge fillip for a side looking to further reinforce their credibility at the very highest level of the sport. There is some concern that their elevation comes at precisely the wrong time for the Pumas, as the sun sets on their “golden generation”, but much the same was true of Italy at the time of their VI Nations introduction. Few will argue, with hindsight, that their inclusion has strengthened the tournament, and rugby in Italy itself.

Any rugby fan, especially those attending the game, will be saddened to miss out on seeing the world’s most talented footballer, Juan-Martin Hernandez, at Twickenham. But the home side ought to prove more exciting that the turgid and pedestrian XV that succumbed to an equally under strength Australia last weekend. There are four changes in all, with Haskell, Hartley, Hodgson and Bell replacing Crane, Thompson, Care and the unfortunate David Wilson, whose injury prevents him from building on a promising display on Saturday. Gloucester prop Paul Doran-Jones makes his first appearance on the bench in the worst propping crisis since Robbie Morris last played for England .

England's Paul Hodgson during a training session at Penny Hill Park Hotel, Surrey - All Pictures by Empics

Hope springs eternal that such changes will inject dynamism into England ’s attack. Hodgson provided infinitely better service from the base upon introduction against the Aussies, and Haskell’s clean break from a ruck was one of a monstrous three (yes, three) compiled by England in 80 minutes of rugby last time out.

Sadly, we’ve seen it before. An increase in tempo towards the end of a game that England have already lost is not uncommon, but it is rarely if ever indicative of a strategic sea change. Rather, it has the flavour of a gambler cashing in his chips at midnight and queuing outside the casino at nine the following morning.

And so we come to the elephant in the room - England ’s complete inability to score tries. Johnson’s remarks to the press showed an awareness of the problem, which is worth nothing whatsoever unless we see significant alterations in the game plan to rectify the problems. Past performance is not on Johnson’s side.

Against a weakened outfit England can expect to be dominant in the scrum as they were last week; dominant in the line out, as they were last week; win the penalty count and the battle on the floor (high praise to Lewis Moody’s best display for England since the last World Cup) as they did last week. But, if they continue to ignore the fundamental truths of modern rugby it will all be for nought.

Test rugby players are bigger, stronger, faster and more physical than ever, and if fifteen of them put their minds to it, they will be able to get the ball from you eventually. Huddling limply over the back of ruck in the hope of generating phase after phase of possession for its own sake is akin to hoping an armed burglar doesn’t find the money under your mattress. Furthermore, modern games are not won in units of three, and as long as a converted try is worth more than two penalties it is not enough to kick your goals and hope for the best.

England must attempt to score tries. They can make all the excuses they like about personnel, but a discerning fan to say nothing of an astute opposition coach can always tell lack of penetration from lack of effort. My ranting against Wilkinson has become predictable and familiar around here, so I’ll merely say that if the Chosen One shows the same profligacy in, and disregard for, possession of the ball, England will go down on Saturday. Furthermore, they will not beat another top eight side this season.

New Kid on the Block!

 England's Paul Doran-Jones poses for the media at the teams Penny Hill Park Hotel, Surrey

England: 15 Ugo Monye, 14 Mark Cueto, 13 Danny Hipkiss, 12 Shane Geraghty, 11 Matt Banahan, 10 Jonny Wilkinson, 9 Paul Hodgson, 8 James Haskell, 7 Lewis Moody, 6 Tom Croft, 5 Steve Borthwick (captain), 4 Louis Deacon, 3 Duncan Bell, 2 Dylan Hartley, 1 Tim Payne Replacements: 16 Steve Thompson, 17 Paul Doran-Jones, 18 Courtney Lawes, 19 Joe Worsley, 20 Danny Care, 21 Andy Goode, 22 Ayoola Erinle

Argentina: 15-Horacio Agulla, 14-Lucas Borges, 13-Gonzalo Tiesi, 12-Martin Rodriguez, 11-Mauro Comuzzi, 10-Santiago Fernandez, 9-Alfredo Lalanne; 8-Juan Fernandez Lobbe (captain), 7-Alfredo Abadie, 6-Tomas Leonardi, 5-Patricio Albacete, 4-Esteban Lozada, 3-Martin Scelzo, 2-Mario Ledesma, 1-Rodrigo Roncero. Replacements: 16-Alberto Vernet Basualdo, 17-Marcos Ayerza, 18-Manuel Carizza, 19-Alejandro Campos, 20-Agustin Figuerola, 21-Benjamin Urdapilleta, 22-Federico Martin Aramburu.