Pumas extend England's miserable run
Andy Robinson's position could come under threat after suffering a reverse to the Pumas
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Saturday, 11, Nov 2006 08:03
England crashed to a seventh consecutive defeat as Argentina shocked the Twickenham crowd with a 25-18 away win that deepens the uncertainty surrounding coach Andy Robinson.
With the World Cup less than a year away England have never looked less likely to defend the Webb Ellis trophy as a stuttering performance was deservedly punished by a spirited Pumas team.
The home side had seemed to settle after a nervy start when Wasps winger Paul Sackey crossed for the first try of the game after 32 minutes.
With Charlie Hodgson slotting over the conversion England had a 10-3 lead which in previous years would have formed the foundations of a comfortable win.
But the world champions' crisis of confidence was clear to see as they were forced back onto the defensive and Federico Todeschini was afforded the chances from the tee to reduce the gap to 10-9 at the break.
Robinson attempted to sharpen his side's attacking edge with a host of substitutions early in the second half that included the withdrawal of half-back pairing Shaun Perry and Hodgson to the ironic cheers of the crowd.
But Toby Flood, Hodgson's replacement, did little to suggest he was ready to take up the fly-half mantle, almost immediately throwing a wild pass that was eagerly snapped up by Todeschini for a 70-metre interception try.
19-10 behind, England searched desperately for a way back into the game and appeared to have discovered one when Iain Balshaw's scorching pace carried him over from inside his own half.
But Flood, having kicked a penalty just minutes earlier, could not repeat his success and England continued to trail, if only by a point.
Instead of England continuing the comeback to take victory it was the visitors who won the final quarter of the game with Todeschini exploiting English errors and ill-discipline to add two more penalties to a fine individual performance, sealing a famous win.