by Regardless of the context, Lions Summer or not, England has never lost a series of tests to Argentina. Since 1981 the two sides have met seven times in multi-match lines, with four winning four and three.
When Steve Borthwick, England’s head coach, was not aware of this statistics, at least he has first -hand experience. England flew to Argentina for two July tests for two July tests, but 16 years ago Borthwick headed his country to a close defeat in Salta, also in summer in Lions. Fortunately, victory was secured in the opening game a week earlier.
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In 2009, Argentina was outsiders against England, even if the visitors had missed nine players due to the Lions Tour in South Africa. However, the dial shifted in 2025; England arrives in Argentina Shorn from 13 Lions tourists and is ready to accept a Pumas team who defeated the famous Touring page in Dublin last month.
Borthwick believes that Argentina will be favorites, perhaps for the first time against England; And England’s two July tests against the Pumas represent a phenomenal challenge for his young team.
“One of the challenges for Argentina is that they got on it [Lions] Play as an outsider, ”says the 45 -year -old Borthwick Den Telegby Rugby Podcast. “You could see. I remember how I looked at a game and flashed into the changing rooms at halftime and there is a banner-I may need someone who really translated it-but it was it [something like] “We against the world”. You are proud to be outsiders. But you won’t be in the tests against us. You will be red-hot favorites.
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“You are expected to win; the Argentine public will expect to win. [Julian] Montoya as captain and [Felipe] Connepomi as a trainer has to deal with it. It is a different dynamic than what they had [against the Lions]. Our task is to go there as best we can to lead them to problems, and if we do that, we will be able to win the games. “
Borthwick’s squad is a full potential, but one that is pending for success. On the tour to Argentina, which England began in addition to the Lions Tour 2017 – on the Eddie Jones’ team in both tests – it is impossible to ignore how Tom Curry and Sam Underhill broke out into the test scene before playing a leading role at the 2019 World Championship.
Tom Curry broke into the international scene on England’s tour through Argentina in 2017 – Getty Images/Dan Mullan
So also the now retired former Newcastle Flanker Mark Wilson, which Borthwick checks by name. Elli’s genge was another who received a first real shot on the Loshead bending space after making his debut in 2016.
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But these tours can overlook as they can meet. In 2017, the tour that striker Borthwick missed due to Lions’ commits, wants to Collier, Jack Maunder, Nathan Earle and Harry Mallinder. After that, nobody played for England again and two indeed never made it to the field.
However, Borthwick’s glass is half full and believes that the 10 unkempt members of his squad will benefit from the leadership of Tour Co captains George Ford and Jamie George, who have 200 English caps.
“Many players can play well at the club level-but there are some that make it to test and are real test match animals,” says Borthwick. “Then you have the elite that plays as often as George and Jamie. I really hope that part of this young group will enter the area and show that these are animals for test games.
“No doubt that there will be some players on this tour who will play a really important role in the World Cup in two years. And at the moment before we go out there, they would not say that they would do it, but I have no doubt that they will appear. I am sure that this will happen again.
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“There are [several who I’m excited about]. JVP [Jack van Poortvliet] Anyone who was not involved in too many English games in English games for several reasons in the past 18 months, I look forward to having him back in the squad. Then they have younger players who are in the squad for the first time. Seb Atkinson, Max Ojomoh. The boys I think that they have great future in front of them. “
A member of the Borthwick squad, who has no great chance on this tour on this tour, is Immanuel Feyi-Waboso. After sending a dangerous duel against France, the exeter wing was banned for two games and will only be available on July 19 for the game against the USA in Washington. Therefore, the selection of the 22-year-old was curious, but the argument was twice.
Immanuel Feyi -Waboso is suspended after caught France Antoine Hastoy with a swinging right arm in a duel – PA/Bradley Collyer
“We had no opportunity to work with him very much because it is due to injuries in autumn and six nations, but I see him as a large part of English rugby,” says Borthwick. “It is also an opportunity for him to help the team prepare for the two tests. Which better person is there to test us? He will cause us all possible problems, what exactly that is what they need for training.”
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Another peculiarity of Borthwick’s squad was the inclusion of only two fly halves in Ford and in Charlie Atkinson from Gloucester. Henry Slade and Ben Spencer will offer emergency cover-“If you start thinking about World Cup squad, it is a real bonus to have players in several positions”-but Borthick is happy to be formable if and when the time comes with potential lion calls. Could we even see a quick recall for Owen Farrell in the event of a flies half-hemispherical injury crisis in Argentina?
“He has not made any plans for the future,” says Borthwick. “Owen and I spoke about a week ago and the conversation was not about rugby or the future as such, it was about him and his family. I wanted to wish him all the best. He was excited to be back home in Hertfordshire in his home club.
“As a trainer, we worked with a group of players.”
And Borthwick, who was absent for the tour for the tour due to his own participation in the Lions in 2017, knows that both coaches and players must be “adaptable” with potential access to the famous touring page. Borthwick has also prepared his players for fanaticism and passion, who are waiting for his side in Argentina.
Steve Borthwick (Center) has good memories of Salta’s rough energy in 2009 – AFP/Juan Mabromata
“It’s an incredible country,” says Borthwick. “A few months ago I visited as a recce for this tour, and the greeting we received was extraordinary. An aspect that noticed in Salta in 2009 when the Lions had gone away, we played the first test and Argentina decided to move it to Old Trafford. We played and won.
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“The reasons are soccer areas; the stands almost feel on you and the atmosphere was electrical. We arrived in the game and the floor was full of supporters who jumped up and down. This was an hour and a half before kick -off!
Argentina has never won a series of tests against England, but in La Plata and San Juan, with their pumas as a “red-hot favorite”, the bear pits that expect England will be wilder. Argentina expects history in the management. By the end of July, Borthwick will know his “test match animal” in order.
