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After an encouraging start to last weekend's autumnal opener against Australia, England ultimately slumped to a disappointing 18-9 defeat at the hands of the Wallabies and the pressure is very much on Martin Johnson and his troops to come up trumps in this afternoon's clash with Argentina.
Johnson has made four changes to his starting XV, three of which are tactical. Dylan Hartley takes over from Steve Thompson at hooker, James Haskell replaces Jordan Crane at No.8 and Paul Hodgson gets the nod at scrum-half ahead of Danny Care. The other change is injury-enforced, with Duncan Bell, whose last start for his country came four years ago, coming in at tight-head prop for the crocked David Wilson.
The Pumas, meanwhile, have their own injury problems and the absences of key playmakers Juan Martin Hernandez and Felipe Contepomi will be sorely felt. Indeed, Santiago Fernandez, who has been selected at fly-half, has never before worn the No.10 jersey. Still, they have, as ever, brought a strong pack with them to London, as evidence by a front row comprising of Rodrigo Roncero, Mario Ledesma and Martin Scelzo.
However, the Twickenham faithful will be fully expecting a confidence-restoring victory - and performance - from their side. Will England deliver? We're about to find out as kick-off is just under half an hour away.....
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| 1 |
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Argentina get the game underway. Haskell claims it cleanly and feeds it back to Hodgson, who boots it calmly into touch.
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| 2 |
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Santiago Fernandez launches a booming up-and-under into the England half. Monye comes to collect but he is beaten to it by the chasing Fernandez Lobbe, who palms back on to his side. A good attacking position is wasted by the Pumas, though, and England eventually clear once more.
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| 4 |
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Plenty of aerial ping pong on show in the early exchanges. We've seen a few horrible kicks, too, most notably from Wilkinson and his opposite number Fernandez.
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| 6 |
3 - 0 |
Fernandez sees his attempted clearance charged down by Lewis Moody. England pounce on the loose ball and its eventually worked back to Wilkinson, who opens the scoring with a smartly-taken drop goal, just as he did seven days ago against the Wallabies.
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| 7 |
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A box kick from Hodgson is horribly spilled by Fernandez Lobbe and the ball bounces up and into the arms of Mark Cueto. The winger sets off down the right flank but Agulla reels him in and forces Cueto to knock the ball on as the Sale man attempted to pass inside.
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| 9 |
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Now it's Argentina's turn to threaten. Santiagoe Fernandez's missed pass finds Rodriguez in space on the right hand side. The centre kicks it in before being checked late by Banahan. The ball is hacked on by Argentine boot but, luckily for England, Wilkinson is on hand to mop up.
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| 11 |
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The Pumas work themselves into an excellent attacking position deep in England's 22 and Fernandez drops into the pocket. However, the No.10's drop goal attempt is poorly struck and it clips a post on its way wide.
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| 13 |
3 - 3 |
Scelzo puts the pressure on Payne in the set-piece, resulting in a penalty for the Pumas right in front of the posts. It is easily converted by Rodriguez and the scores are tied, which is a fair reflection of what we've seen thus far.
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| 16 |
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Geraghty lofts a kick into Argentina territory but its superbly dealt with by Agulla. Argentina counter attack with confidence and no end of menace, eventually earning themselves a penalty just inside England territory.
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| 17 |
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However, Rodriguez's effort drifts to the right of the uprights. The centre had the distance, just not the accuracy.
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| 19 |
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England are kicking plenty of ball at the moment - but to little or no effect. The Pumas are dealing quite competently with everything they've dropped on them and are returning it all with interest.
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| 20 |
6 - 3 |
Leonardi, under immense pressure from Haskell, is pinged for not releasing and Wilkinson converts the resulting penalty with consummate ease to put the hosts back in front.
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| 23 |
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The Pumas earn themselves a penalty in the middle of the pitch but Fernandez fails to find touch. A desperate kick, which ends in a 22 drop out for England.
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| 25 |
6 - 6 |
Monye, who just does not look comfortable at fullback, fails to gather Fernandez's punt forward and England are eventually penalised for an offence at the breakdown. Rodriguez knocks over another straightforward kick from right in front of the posts. Three very easy points for the Pumas.
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| 27 |
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Argentina are enjoying their best spell of possession in the match, keeping the ball in hand as they attempt to inch their way up the middle of the pitch. Fernandez then drops back into the pocket once more but he's again off target with his subsequent drop goal attempt. Still, encouraging stuff from the Argentines.
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| 29 |
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England really are kicking poorly and Geraghty has just booted the ball out on the full. It's desperate stuff thus far from the home side and the crowd are growing restless.
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| 31 |
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Hartley spills the ball on half way, eventually leading to England being penalised for not releasing. Rodriguez lines up the kick but narrowly fails to convert, the ball just drifting to the left at the last moment.
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| 33 |
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England, who have been horribly disjointed and ponderous, finally have a chance to make something happen with Argentina being pinged for not releasing. Wilkinson kicks to touch and England claim the lineout. However, their attempts to run it ultimately come to nothing.
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| 34 |
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Monye breaks from deep for the first time in the match but he's tackled on halfway and loses possession. That's pretty much summed his afternoon up thus far.
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| 36 |
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Monye's woes continue. He attempts to gather a hopeful punt forward by the Pumas but misjudges the bounce, gets ahead of the ball and then knocks it on. An utterly bizarre mistake.
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| 37 |
6 - 9 |
England infringe at the resulting scrum, handing Rodriguez yet another chance to put the visitors ahead. This time he nails it, judging the wind superbly as he bent the ball through the uprights.
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| 39 |
9 - 9 |
Argentina's lead doesn't last long. Albacete is guilty of throwing a hand into the ruck, presenting Wilkinson with an easy opportunity to restore parity. That was a timely boost for England, who, it has to be said, scarcely deserve to be level.
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| 40 |
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Fernandez boots the ball out and it's half-time at Twickenham. The crowd express their understandable displeasure at what they've witnessed in the opening 40 minutes by booing England's players off the pitch. Martin Johnson's men really have been dreadful and a huge improvement is required in the second half.
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| 40 |
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Wilkinson gets the second half underway and England immediately reclaim possession. The men in purple (yes, purple!) look like they've had a real ear-bashing during the break because they've begun with real intent. How long will it last, though?
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| 44 |
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Argentina are caught offside in midfield, presenting Wilkinson with a golden opportunity to kick England into the lead. However, the Toulon playmaker surprisingly drags his kick to the left of the posts. A poor miss by Wilkinson's incredibly high standards.
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| 47 |
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England are at least currently trying to spread the play - but to little avail. Their latest attempt to move the ball wide ended with Hartley knocking the ball after being a most ungrateful recipient of a hospital pass from Haskell. The ball was at least a foot behind the hooker and he was always going to get smashed up the advancing Argentine defence.
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| 49 |
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England are really quite fortunate that Contempomi is not on the field because Rodriguez has just missed another penalty attempt. That shot on goal came after more incredible pressure from the Pumas in the set-piece.
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| 50 |
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Cueto brings the crowd to life with a fine break and a great chase results in a rushed kick to touch from Argentina. England claim the resulting lineout and drive forward. The ball is then spread wide but Borges nails Cueto and the Sharks winger gives away a penalty for not releasing. Tremendous defensive work from the Pumas.
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| 53 |
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Borges is now on the front foot, dancing past three England tacklers after coolly collecting Hodgson's box kick. You get the feeling that Argentina are quite enjoying this game at the moment.
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| 55 |
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Hodgson passes wide to the advancing Monye. The Quins ace has men outside of him but he elects to kick - and gifts possession back to Argentina. Monye really does look like a player whose confidence has been shot to pieces.
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| 57 |
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England build up a bit of momentum only to see it halted by the referee's whistle, Nigel Owens ruling that Wilkinson's pass to Hipkiss was fractionally forward.
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| 59 |
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Another promising move from England comes to nothing when Hipkiss passes wide to..... well, nobody in particular. Monye should have been in support but he was some ten metres behind the play. Shocking stuff.
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| 61 |
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England are probing incessantly, working the ball from one side of the field to the other, but, crucially, they're not going anywhere.
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| 62 |
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Shocking indiscipline from Ledesma, who reaches over the back of the ruck and slaps the ball out of Hodgson's hand. However, his indiscretion goes unpunished as Wilkinson sees his penalty attempt sail wide.
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| 64 |
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It just gets worse for England, with Banahan, under no pressure at all, knocking the ball as he attempts to catch an up-and-under just outside his 22.
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| 67 |
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Remarkable! Wilkinson has missed another kickable penalty attempt. It is a damning indictment of the malaise currently afflicting the England team that even the game's greatest goal-kicker is suffering with the jitters.
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| 71 |
16 - 9 |
England are finally over! Haskell led the initial charge up the middle and was able supported by Borthwick. England then worked it wide superbly, with Moody waiting until the last possible second before off-loading to Banahan, who was left with a simple run-in. Wilkinson converts with ease and England are suddenly seven points clear.
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| 72 |
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Wilkinson rises majestically to collect an Argentine punt forward before embarking on a scything run which takes him past three Puma tacklers and all the way up to halfway. Terrific break from the fly-half.
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| 73 |
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Banahan loses possession wide on the left and Argentina counter-attack. Fernandez feeds Tiesi with a sublime reverse pass and the centre breaks clear. However, he stumbles at the most inopportune time and knocks on. What a chance that was, because Tiesi had nothing but open space in front of him.
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| 75 |
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Argentina are piling on the pressure. First Lalanne threatens down the left flank before a succession of pick-and-go's take the Pumas to within five metres of the England line. However, the Pumas are ultimately penalised for holding on and England clear.
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| 76 |
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Desperate stuff from Care, who kicks the ball into touch on the full just seconds after coming on for Hodgson. Pressure back on England.
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| 77 |
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It's panic stations now for England. Monye comes from deep to try to collect Rodriguez's up-and-under but he only succeeds in deflecting the ball to Figuerola, who launches the Pumas on the attack down the left wing. England snuff out the danger but Argentina keep the pressure on and eventually earn themselves a penalty.
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| 78 |
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The Pumas kick to the corner and set up the catch-and-drive. England hold firm until eventually Argentina knock on. Still two minutes to go but that should be the game for England.
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| 79 |
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Argentina try to pile on the pressure in the set-piece in a desperate attempt to force another penalty but England's scrum holds up. The ball is worked back to Goode but his clearance is desperately poor. Argentina will have another line-out five metres from the England line.
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| 80 |
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Argentina inch forward but they're eventually held up just short of the line and Nigel Owens blows the whistle for full-time, much to the relief of England's players - and indeed their manager, Martin Johnson. England may have gotten the win they so desperately needed but the nature of the performance will do little to ease the pressure on Johnson and his team.
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