The Morning After the Victory
Most of us have been there. A dull throb as the eyelids slowly open; a desperate fumble for the Berocca; a slow roll out of bed and search for a packet of bacon, a pair of running trainers or whatever happens to be one’s particular cure of choice. Slowly, the hazy recollections emerge into a heavy head – perhaps a night to be remembered, perhaps one to forget.
For England, a ninth-ever win over New Zealand falls firmly as the former, and there might have been a few in need of nursing last Sunday morning. Publicly, the players were given licence to celebrate a performance that proved their progress as they wished as Steve Borthwick recognised the importance of allowing his squad to let off some steam after what feels a important victory in the growth of a side increasingly looking in encouraging shape. An eight-day turnaround to their final fixture of 2025 was helpful; an environment that has perha
England Name Team to Face Ireland with Opoku-Fordjour Starting
England have announced their team to face Ireland, with a new front row including young tighthead Asher Opoku-Fordjour. the changes reflect both injuries sustained in saturday’s game and the growing depth within the squad, according to head coach steve Borthwick.
“Certainly, some of [the changes] are clearly from the knocks and bangs we had from Saturday’s game.Others reflect the depth developing within the squad. I have been really pleased with the impact we’ve had late in games. Now it comes to those guys who are now numbers 16 to 23 to deliver that impact.”
While perhaps lacking in raw carrying power, the side boasts controlling quality in the backline and mobility up front, embodying a clearer England identity after a year of progress with only one defeat. England’s improved fitness levels, aided by the arrival of Phil Morrow and enhanced EPS contracts, are key to this evolution.
“The team keeps running and can create chances and take chances,” Borthwick said. “That’s the distinct difference. This is a team that’s got to be able to run for each other and while we talk about sometimes we don’t quite have the same power as an England team used to have, what we do have is this team can run.”
## argentina Pose a Familiar Threat to England as They Seek to Extend Winning Record
Argentina arrive at Twickenham this weekend as a formidable opponent, capable of replicating the success they enjoyed on their last visit in 2022. That victory, a stunning turnaround from a 0-deficit, showcased the potent attacking capabilities of Felipe Contepomi’s side – a style that has already troubled major rugby nations like the British & Irish Lions and New Zealand this year.
While a subsequent 2-0 series defeat on home soil against a weakened England squad raised eyebrows, the context of player availability was significant.Like South Africa, Argentina’s team is largely comprised of players based in European competitions, necessitating careful management of player workload and rest during the demanding southern hemisphere international schedule.
[https://www.autonomous.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-union/argentina-england-autumn-nations-series-b2447399.html](https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-union/argentina-england-autumn-nations-series-b2447399.html)
This weekend, Argentina boast a near full-strength squad, with the return of key playmaker Tomas Albornoz at fly-half and the impactful Pablo Matera and Santiago Carreras providing options from the bench. This strengthens their position as a developing force in international rugby, and presents a significant challenge for England, especially if they are still recovering from their recent defeat against New Zealand.
England captain Maro Itoje acknowledges the threat, stating, “This is a team that has hurt us before, this is a team that has beaten us, and we know a lot of their players.” He also highlighted the increasing familiarity within the england squad,noting the growing number of Argentinian players featuring in the English Premiership and French leagues. [https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-union/argentina-england-autumn-nations-series-b2447399.html](https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-union/argentina-england-autumn-nations-series-b2447399.html)
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