By Ben Coles
Steve Borthwick will have watched Argentina’s laboured start to their Test year with the most cautious of smiles, hoping that England will exploit their set-piece and kicking weaknesses just as New Zealand did in this one-sided contest in Mendoza.
High-tempo work from the All Blacks’ pack in possession — shifting the ball well and carrying with intensity — combined with Argentina’s poor tactical kicking and a struggling lineout are all areas where Borthwick will feel England can hurt their Pool D opponents when they meet in Marseille in September.
The good news for Michael Cheika, Borthwick’s counterpart, is that he still has plenty of time and warm-up fixtures to sharpen his side up. Early inaccuracy in Mendoza left Argentina in a 17-src hole, undone for the second and third tries scored by New Zealand through either losing the aerial battle or gifting away possession as a result of Santiago Carreras’ kicking in attack. The Gloucester back began his Test career at full-back but is now the frontline fly-half, with the veteran Nicolas Sanchez on the
…. to be continued
Read full article at the Original Source
Copyright for syndicated content belongs to the linked Source : The Telegraph – https://www.telegraph.co.uk/rugby-union/2023/07/08/argentina-v-new-zealand-rugby-championship-live-score/
