Argentina will not be caught cold a second time

Martin Landajo, the Argentina scrum-half, says that his team will be prepared for anything at Twickenham on Saturday after England caught them off guard during the summer.

The Pumas were geared up for a traditional slugfest against England for the two-test series in June only for Eddie Jones’s team to come out on top of two roller-coaster matches that finished 38-34 and 35-25. Jones has hinted that England will rest some of their Lions contingent on Saturday, a suggestion that Landajo more than welcomed. “Much better,” Landajo said. “Tell them we want them to rest as many as possible.” The difference in June, according to Landajo, was one of precision, with England taking their opportunities in ruthless fashion.

“In Argentina, England attacked a lot and that surprised us,” Landajo said. “I thought they were going to kick the ball much more, but it was dry, that was why. Here, if it is wet, maybe they will kick the ball more.

“I think they are very precise. If you make a mistake they take points and we don’t do that. We play good rugby and have the ball, but when they make a mistake we don’t take points all the time. That was the difference.”

Perhaps the biggest surprise was the form of Nathan Hughes, the No 8, who delivered his best performances in an England shirt having initially struggled to fill the void left by Billy Vunipola. “He was a ball carrier we struggled to stop,” Landajo said. “I think he made a difference.”

Since reaching the semi-finals of the 2015 World Cup, Argentina’s form has suffered with them losing eight of their nine Tests this year engaging in a free-flowing style that has won more friends than games. “We won’t change that,” Landajo said. “We are learning a lot and we’re not going to play every ball.”