5. Captain Courtney Makes Amends After Fiji Defeat
In the absence of Owen Farrell, England’s captaincy has recently been bestowed to Courtney Lawes. He took over the armband from Ellis Genge for his 100th test match against Fiji, yet the Pacific Islanders upset his day with a historic victory at Twickenham last month. Lawes led from the front as England made amends, in what was a real day of retribution for the otherwise laid-back loose forward.
Lawes often leaves the jubilant celebration to the likes of Earl, Genge and Itoje, yet the Saints man could not help but show his emotions when England achieved a key penalty in the matches’ latter stages. More often than not, Lawes was the man who took the pats on the back after coming up with the ball from a breakdown, with a masterful showing of how to jackal demonstrated in Marseille.
Lawes’ most significant turnover saw him expertly read a pre-mediated Argentine penalty move. He paid no notice of the attempted distraction tactics, for the Pumas move straight from the training pitch, and timed his jackal to perfection, for a huge turnover on England’s five metre line. More than making up for the defeat against Fiji, Lawes was at the top of his game today, and presented England fans with plenty to cheer about when Ford wasn’t sending the ball over the posts.
Lawes flew out the line to make hits in his trademark fashion, with the Argentine ball carriers driven backwards by the Northampton man. It may well be ‘Saint George’ taking the headlines after a clinical display at fly half, yet England would not have reached their heights they did today if it was not for another certain Saint from Northampton.
ENGLAND: 27
TRIES: 0
CONVERSIONS: 0
PENALTIES: 6 (Ford 9′ 45′ 53′ 58′, 66′, 74′)
DROP GOALS: 3 (Ford 27′, 30′, 36′,)
YELLOW CARDS / BUNKERS: 1 (Curry 3′)
RED CARDS: 1 (Curry 3′)
ARGENTINA: 10
TRIES: 1 (Bruni 80′)
CONVERSIONS: 1 (Boffelli 80′)
PENALTIES: 1 (Boffelli 4′)
DROP GOALS: 0
YELLOW CARDS / BUNKERS: 1 (S. Carreras 8′)
RED CARDS: 0