Test Rugby: Argentina Will Be Tougher at Home

13.06.2009
England v Argentina in Salta (2nd of 2 tests)

Preview
Originally I picked England to win by 7. Then I saw that three very experienced players were included into the Argentine front and middle rows which gives this Argentine side a more solid look that was at Manchester last weekend. Also Argentina did not play as bad as the scoreline suggested. They made a few wrong options and were outplayed in the loose.

I feel that has tipped the match Argentina's way. Also playing out in the provinces will be tough on the English-Salta will be a bit like Dunedin, New Zealand-Argentina's equivalent of 'The House of Pain'.

Last Five Encounters
06.06.2009 England 37-15 in Manchester (1st test)
11.11.2006 Argentina 25-18 at Twickenham
22.06.2002 England 26-18 in Buenos Aires
25.11.2000 England 19-0 at Twickenham
07.06.1997 Argentina 33-13 in Buenos Aires

GWC Rugby Rankings: World Table-England 3rd, Argentina 9th

Prediction: Argentina by 7 points

Teams

Argentina
15 Horacio Agulla (Brive, France) 24, 18
14 Francisco Leonelli (Saracens, England) 31, 15
13 Gonzalo Tiesi (Harlequins, England) 24, 19
12 Santiago Fernández (Hindú Club) 23, 2
11 Gonzalo Camacho (B.A.C.R.C.) ?, 1
10 Juan Martín Hernández (Stade Francais, France) 27, 31
9 Alfredo Lalanne (San Isidro Club) 26, 1
8 Juan Fernández Lobbe, Capt’(Sale Sharks, England) 27, 29
7 Juan Manuel Leguizamón (Stade Francais, France) 25, 30
6 Genaro Fessia (Córdoba Athletic) 27, 1
5 Patricio Albacete (Stade Toulousian, France) 27, 30
4 Rimas Álvarez Kairelis (Perpignan, France) 34, 43
3 Marcos Ayerza (Leicester Tigers, England) 26, 22
2 Mario Ledesma (ASM Clermont Auvergne, France) 36, 69
1 Rodrigo Roncero (Stade Francais, France) 32, 33
Replacements
16 Alberto Vernet Basualdo (Stade Toulousian, France) 26, 11
17 Juan Pablo Orlandi (Rovigo, Italy) 26, 4
18 Manuel Carizza (Biarritz Olympique, France) 24, 11
19 Esteban Lozada (Toulon, France) 27, 14
20 Nicolás Vergallo (Dax, France) 25, 15
21 Miguel Avramovic (Montauban, France) 27, 12
22 Lucas González Amorosino (Pucará) ?, 1
Head Coach: Santiago Phelan

England
15 Delon Armitage (London Irish) Age 24, 10 tests
14 Mark Cueto (Sale Sharks) 28, 30
13 Daniel Hipkiss (Leicester Tigers) 26, 8
12 Thomas May (Newcastle Falcons) 29, 1
11 Matthew Banahan (Bath Rugby) 22, 1
10 Andrew Goode (CA Brive, France) 28, 15
9 Daniel Care (Harlequins) 21, 10
8 Nicholas Easter (Harlequins) 33, 26
7 Steffon Armitage (London Irish) 23, 2
6 Christopher Robshaw (Harlequins) , New Cap
5 Louis Deacon (Leicester Tigers) 28, 7
4 Steven Borthwick, Capt. (Saracens) 28, 50
3 Julian White (Leicester Tigers) 35, 50
2 Dylan Hartley (Northampton Saints) 22, 10
1 Timothy Payne (London Wasps) 29, 11
Replacements
16 George Chuter (Leicester Tigers) 32, 20
17 David Wilson (Newcastle Falcons) 23, 1
18 Benjamin Kay (Leicester Tigers) 33, 61
19 James Haskell (London Wasps) 23, 18
20 Paul Hodgson (London Irish) 26, 2
21 Samuel Vesty (Leicester Tigers) 26, 1
22 Mathew Tait (Sale Sharks) 22, 30
Head Coach: Martin Johnson