Forget the football, this is the only game that matters. Both teams will be boosted by wins last weekend. Los Pumas will have gained more from their 35-21 win over the Welsh than England will have from their 73-8 shellacking of a pretty ordinary Fiji side but as they say, you can only play what’s in front of you. Needless to say, the Argentina fans will be baying for blood. Buoyed by their win in the other World Cup semi final, their team will be out to reverse a 5-0 losing streak against the English. So the stage is set. Bring it on.
Remember the Falklands!
ARGENTINA
Contipomi has made a couple of tweaks to the side that defeated Wales.
Mayco Vivas comes in a loose head for Boris Wenger and the experienced Matias Moroni replaces Lucio Cinti in the 13 jersey. The coach has picked a pack with plenty of experience. Expect a solid set piece and a dynamic back row with Oviedo at 8 leading the charge. They also have a backline that oozes class with a strong centre pairing and pace to burn in the back three. Englands discipline had better be good because Albornoz kicks like a metronome.
Team: 15 S Carreras, 14 Delguy, 13 Moroni 12 Picardy, 11 M Carreras, 10 Albornoz, 9 Garcia, 1 Vivas, 2 Montoya, 3 Rapetti, 4 Petti, 5 Alemanno, 6 Grondona, 7 Kremer, 8 Oviedo.
Replacements: 16 Ruiz, 17 Moroni, 18 Sclavi, 19 Molina, 20 Rubiolo, 21 González, 22 Matera, 23 Prisciantelli
‘Engerlund’
ENGLAND
Much to everyone’s surprise Steve Borthwick has resisted temptation and names an unchanged team for the clash so it’s no place in the starting lineup for flanker Henry Pollock, centre Bernard Van Rensburg or rising star Noah Calouri. There is a debut on the cards for loose head Emmanuel Iyogun and Ben Spencer comes in for the injured Alex Mitchell. I must admit I was expecting to see both Pollock and BVR starting but I see the logic of keeping Chessum at 6 for the physicality he will bring to counter Argentinas strong back row. Pollock will get his chance in the last 30 mins when play opens up as fatigue creeps in. Expect the usual quota of kick chases which had better be on the money because Argentina have the backs to run the ball back with interest.
Team: 15 Smith, 14 Freeman, 13 Slade, 12 Atkinson, 11 Feyi-Waboso, 10 F Smith, 9 Van Poortvliet, 1 Genge, 2 George, 3 Heyes, 4 Coles, 5 Martin, 6 Chessum, 7 Pepper, 8 Earl.
Replacements: 17 Cowan-Dickie, 17 Iyogun, 18 Opoku-Fordjour, 19 Curry, 20 Pollock, 21 Spencer, 22 Janse van Rensburg, 23. Caluori.
FEARLESS PREDICTION
My heart says England but this one could go either way. Two evenly match sides with all to play for. If England can deny Argentina’s talented backline possession they could well nick it. If Argentina get parity of possession and their backs are on song, England could be in trouble. I’m sitting on the fence but one thing is sure, win or lose the so called England fans will be calling for Borthwicks head on a platter. Who’d be a coach.
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