Argentina v England, 2nd Test, Buenos Aires
'Blood and thunder' Test awaits England in Argentina
ESPN Staff
June 14, 2013
Marland Yarde raises a smile during England practice, Stadium Velez Sarsfield, Buenos Aires, June 14, 2013
Marland Yarde raises a smile during England practice © Getty Images
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England captain Tom Wood has warned his players that Argentina will come out all guns blazing when the two sides meet in the second Test in Buenos Aires on Saturday.

England won the first match 32-3 and Wood said the scale of that defeat would galvanise the hosts. "The Argentinians have got their backs against the wall … they're suffering from a bit of hurt pride. I fully expect it will be a blood and thunder Test match.

"I think people looked upon that last Test as an easy victory because we pulled away early and seemed to score tries with ease in the first half. It was by no stretch of the imagination an easy victory.

"They were very good. They tackled hard, they ran hard and got the offloads in early. It was our defence that nullified them and after 15 minutes I felt they were looking around thinking 'we can't crack them'.

"I felt last week was as good as we have been in a long while. If we don't do the same this week, if we go in with expectations of an easy ride, then the outcome will be very different."

England have made two changes, bringing in Marland Yarde for his first cap in place David Strettle and Kyle Eastmond, who made his debut off the bench last week, replaces the Billy Twelvetrees who is now with the Lions in Australia.

Asked if England were taking their foot off the gas at the end of a long season, Joe Launchbury, England's player of the year, said that was not the case. "People may look at it and think we are winding down but we are not at all. It's a massive challenge for us and we want to be the first England team to come out here and win a Test series with a clean sweep."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.

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