Jones will be thrilled his side found a way to triumph over adversity
England’s response to losing Daly was superb, with May and others showing marked improvement
England show another side to them
In many ways I think this was England’s best win yet under Eddie Jones. He will be delighted because going a man down so early presented a different sort of challenge to his team. The way they responded to Elliot Daly’s red card was nothing short of exemplary.
Argentina, as they proved at the World Cup, are adept at getting the ball into the outside channels. Stopping them from doing that required everyone to adapt tactically, and they did. Going from a back three to a back two is not easy. It alters the balance of a team as the back three are so crucial for sweeping. You could not fault Jonny May or Mike Brown. It also requires subtle changes from the No 8 and scrum-half; covering to make it a back two and a half as required.
Billy Vunipola and Ben Youngs also had outstanding games; Youngs’s kicking and defensive work, in particular, was of the highest order.
In fact, most of England’s players played well. And that includes the bench, with Joe Marler and Jamie George and Kyle Sinckler, who made another eye-catching cameo. Teimana Harrison is maybe still a work in progress but again I thought he got better as the game went on. He was very busy over the ball. It’s all about options and England’s are growing all the time. You have to say that Argentina’s discipline was very poor. I also thought their outside backs could have stepped wider to give Juan Martín Hernández more options to kick wide or chip over the midfield, two areas which become vulnerable to a team who are short in the back three department. England adapted so well.
England now have the four Cs – Character. Confidence. Control. Clarity
What I like about this England team is that they all appear to know what they are doing; they have real clarity of purpose. When they lost Daly they did not panic. They adapted. And at the key moments of the game, they took control. When Argentina reminded them how dangerous they can be with those two tries either side of the break, England took control.
Recognising the strength of their line-out – George Kruis played the full 80 minutes, which was an incredible effort – England produced an excellent line-out drive on 50 minutes which led to a Farrell penalty for 19-14. Then Youngs produced a brilliant clearance, pegging Argentina back in their own half again. Then a big scrum, with Marler and George now in the front row, yielded another penalty for 22-14.
Delivering under pressure; Jones will be delighted. As for May’s try, which effectively killed the game, that was outstanding rugby; a fouron-three situation, with every man – George Ford, Tom Wood, Joseph, and May – all square, all running at the inside shoulder, all taking a defender out of the game; outstanding execution, and of course, electric pace from May.
Jonny May has become hugely important to this England team
I said last week that I was not yet convinced by Semesa Rokoduguni as an international wing, and to judge from his selection for this game, Jones was clearly of the same opinion. Rokoduguni has many strengths but defensively he can be found wanting. May showed yesterday that he has now become crucial to this team. He always had tremendous speed but he used to make too many errors. He has cut those out of his game. What most impressed me yesterday was the way he adapted to Daly’s departure. His game involvement was huge, taking away Argentina’s advantage. He looked for work, identified issues and dealt with them, covering brilliantly. And when he got the opportunity to finish a backline move he did it. He has more than just pace.
Elliot Daly needs a rap on the knuckles – then an arm around the shoulder
Daly will be mortified by what he did. He is still new to this team and everything until now had gone very well for him. Trudging off, he would have felt he had let everyone down and he will be worried about his place now. This is when great coaches earn their corn. I am sure that Eddie will let him know that what he did was foolish. There was no malice but it was reckless. On another day it might have cost England. With these new World Rugby directives, which are all about what is happening to the man in the air, you simply cannot afford to get it wrong. If you have mistimed your run you should simply run past and let the man coming through behind you make the tackle. I think Eddie will use it as a lesson learned collectively. He will drum it into the entire team. But once the ban is over, he will get Daly involved again. He is a young man who needs support and he will come back stronger from this. And Jones obviously likes him as a player.
Australia will be biggest test
England have learned something new each week this autumn. I still think some of their first-up tackling could be better. But you cannot fault the work rate or attitude. Chris Robshaw’s performance exemplified how England have changed. He looks fitter, sharper and has more clarity about his play. Australia, though, will present the sternest test yet of Jones’ squad. England may have won 3-0 down in Australia this summer but the Wallabies have played some excellent rugby this autumn; some of their attacking play against Ireland yesterday was incredible. It should be a fantastic finish to the autumn.
Daly will be mortified by what he did. He is still new to this team and everything until now had gone well