A man down for the whole match. You make your own luck. We were dominant against a side that had beaten big sides and were favourites before kick off.
That reminded me of great battling performances, like Italy 0-0 England in 1997. Or Kelvin Davis 1-0 Leeds
Instead of having a go at England why not criticise Argentina for their woeful inability to capitalise on the extra man they had for around 67 minutes (taking 10 off for the sin bin).
Carried the ball really low initiating accidental head contact and getting all the Argentinian players sent off. That was the only other tactic to use.
With a healthy lead in the last 10 minutes, played more expansively. By then Argentina were there for the taking. The consolation happened as England had taken their foot off the pedal. by then.
Sir, you are wrong. England played professionally and could push nothing those last ten. Did you not see Itoji come charging out only to collapse with exhaustion. This was not the game for getting ourselves in trouble with flamboyant football.
Not interested in Argentina. I did not think for one minute that Argentina had the capabilty to overcome England even with 14 men. As England have the biggest poool of players to choose from I think it is right to be critical of how England play such a turgid game. But then it is great to applaud the forwards to force their opponents into conceeding a penalty. We saw this against Ireland a year or two in the 6 Nations and the tactic nearly worked until Ireland sorted their heads out. I just feel England should be more expansive, take risks. The talent is there, the speed merchants are there - a la May and Steward.
OK accept your point!!! Playing professionally to get a job done but I hope how England have played tonight is not going to be the template when they play the other teams in the group and whoever they play in the qf and sf. My template is the way NZ played in 2015. I will always hold that as a benchmark as to how rugby should be played. And further back the Welsh teams in the 1970s.
Dodgy red card in France? Don't tell me that wasn't planned. Just like Beckham against the Argies in France '98. We'll be up against the refs for the whole tournament no doubt. F*ck the French.
South Africa got away with one. The officials have completely missed a red card which was similar to the Tom Curry one last night. Head on head contact. No consistency. They need to get a grip on this!
Scotland v S.A. Commentators said that "Flower of Scotland" was first sung by Scotland in 1991. Fake News. It was adopted after my mate, Scottish winger Billy Steel, introduced it on the 1974 British Lions tour in 1947. We became friends when he was a RAF PTI at Locking in 1968. It's my only claim to fame...I can't let a poncy ITV commentator take it away from me.
England were never going to play that game after going down to 14 men so early though were they. You're already at a disadvantage with a player down, you can't then afford to start experimenting considering Argentina may well end up winning the rest of their games along with Japan in the Pool too. Ford was right to take the game into his hands go for the drop goals as it helped rally the team and the fanbase. From there Argentina gave away the cheap penalties as they were rattled, simple psychology really.
Argument accepted in the cold light of the day. Let's hope that as the weather becomes more autumnly, England become more expansiva in the other group games and into the qfs and maybe semis! NZ were in 2015!!
