Sport Eddie braces England for a Pumas backlash
ENGLAND coach Eddie Jones insists his team will be prepared for all eventualities as they seek to wrap up a 2-0 series victory over Argentina.
Jones is expecting a backlash from the Pumas in tonight’s second Test in Sante Fe following their last-minute 38-34 defeat in San Juan, warning that England’s opponents may go back into their shells after their expansive approach proved so costly in the end.
“I think it might be a bit of a slugathon,” Jones said at a press conference in Sante Fe attended by a host of local dignatories including British ambassador Mark Kent.
“It is very rarely that you get two games the same.
“It is like drinking a beer. The first beer never tastes the same as the second beer and the third beer never tastes the same as the second one. Rugby is the same.
“If the first game has been open, the second game has been tighter, so we are prepared for both.
“We want to become a very adaptable team – we want to be able to play both ways, if we have to slug it out or if we have to play in an open affair like it was last week.
“We have made a few changes to have a slightly stronger team and we feel well equipped to handle the occasion.”
England are boosted by the return from injury of the experienced Chris Robshaw and Jones is excited to see his backrow partner Sam Underhill, who will become the 11th new cap on the tour.
Underhill, who like Robshaw was injured for the first game, takes over from teenager Tom Curry with a chance to stake a claim for the No.7 shirt going into the 2019 World Cup.
“We always had Sam earmarked to start at seven,” Jones said. “He started against the Baabaas and did well in the first 30 and now he has got his opportunity. “With Tom Curry, we are just looking after him a bit. He had a terrific game last week but he is still a bit battered and bruised and sometimes you are better off giving him a break now and get his off-season in and he will be right to go next season.” With no fewer than 30 players missing through injury and British and Irish Lions calls, this tour has been about blooding players for the future and Jones says he now has a squad of 62 which he will need to halve before the World Cup.
“That’s 62 players we want to keep tabs on,” he said.
“It has got to get down to 31, so the competition is intense.”
While Underhill and centre Piers Francis, who will make his first start, have their eyes on the long-term, the
Very rarely you get two games the same. It is like drinking a beer. The first beer never tastes the same as the second
more experienced players in the England team could yet be battling it out for Lions spots amid speculation that Warren Gatland may send for rei n f o r c e ment s over the weekend. After his manof-the-match performance in San Juan, fly-half George Ford could profit from the injury to Owen Farrell, while lock Joe Launchbury is another player with plenty of incentive to perform well in Sante Fe, although Jones refused to add to the speculation.
Seamer Jasprit Bumrah insists India will not underestimate Pakistan in the Champions Trophy final despite hammering them in both sides’ tournament opener.
Pakistan were written off after a 124-run mauling in Birmingham, but bounced back to overcome South Africa and Sri Lanka before upsetting hosts England in the last four.
Now they have a chance for revenge against India tomorrow, and Bumrah insists Pakistan will be afforded plenty of respect by India.
“They are always a good side. On their day they can beat any side so you cannot take any team lightly, especially Pakistan,” he said. “Now we’ve reached the final we’ll plan. There are no easy games over here.”
While part-timer Kedar Jadhav took the plaudits with two crucial wickets against Bangladesh, Bumrah was no less impressive, miserly at the start before taking two scalps at the death, including the dangerous Mahmudullah with a trademark yorker.
The 23-year-old said: “It always feels good whenever you’re contributing to your team. (Bowling yorkers) is not easy and you have to work really hard.
“I’ll have a good death session because that’s the time I bowl in the match. It’s similar to bowling a length ball but the more you practise it, the better you get at it.”
Warren Gatland is expected to draft as many as six extra players on to the British and Irish Lions tour next week.
The Lions’ reinforcements would be primed to take seats on the bench in Tuesday’s Waikato clash against the Chiefs, to ease the pressure on the tourists’ Test match 23.
The three-Test series against New Zealand starts on June 24, and Tuesday’s Chiefs clash represents a heavy burden following today’s Maori All Blacks encounter in Rotorua.
Gatland had initially raised the idea of adding a clutch of players to his Lions squad ahead of the Chiefs encounter back in September. Now the head coach is understood to be ready to do just that.