Stakes high as England fight Pumas
This is our final, says Argentine Ledesma
>> TOKYO: With one team calling the match their Rugby World Cup final and the other out to keep the good times rolling, Argentina’s Pool C meeting with England in Tokyo today is shaping up to be one to remember.
Argentina coach Mario Ledesma said his team’s third game of the tournament provides an opportunity to “get into the history books of Argentine rugby.”
“This is our World Cup final. That’s how important it is for us,” said the Argentine, who played 84 times for his country.
The game at Tokyo Stadium is also an opportunity for Argentina to get into the mix for a top-two spot in the group, as a win over England and then another over the United States next week would give them hope of beating a path to the quarter-finals.
Despite England having won the last nine encounters between the teams, with Los Pumas’ most recent conquest coming in 2009, England coach Eddie Jones remains wary of the South Americans.
“I think they were very unlucky to lose to France,” said the former Japan coach who is now trying to pilot England to their first World Cup title since 2003.
“All the stats from the game suggest they should have won the game so we have the greatest respect for Argentina.”
“They are our major opponent and they’ve been pretty impressive so far,” Jones said.
With Argentina no doubt relying heavily on their powerful scrum to slow the game’s tempo, tie up England’s roving ball hawks and free up their own backline, England have focused on combatting the big men up front. “It’ll be a massive test on Saturday. They haven’t scrummed against us yet and we believe our scrum can be a real weapon for us, so hang on to your seats,” said Jones.
Starting Argentina prop Nahuel Tetaz Chaparro wants his frontrow partners to help him seize the initiative. “They’re very explosive and it will be a barometer. That’s why we have to be very focused. And [in] the maul, which, because of my position, is what I’m thinking about most.”
England have largely reverted to the starting side that played Tonga in their World Cup opener, making nine changes to the first 15 that smoked the United States 45-7 last week.
Argentina are looking for continuity in comparison, replacing just Tomas Lezana with Javier Ortega Desio at the back of the scrum.
When questioned about whether he selected a team that would play negative rugby, Ledesma was having none of it. “When we select the team, we think about the best team possible to win the game. It’s nothing negative. This is the best selection possible to win the game on Saturday.”
But for Jones, it seems the Argentina squad is picked with a clear task in mind. “We know that Argentina play with a lot of pride and passion and this will be multiplied by the fact they are in a game that is very important to them,” he said. KYODO