Stuart Barnes previews England's make-or-break showdown with Argentina at Twickenham on Saturday in The Times.
"There is a lurid sense of anticipation concerning this game between the world's sixth and eighth-rated teams. The days of Argentina being a push-over are long gone, but with Juan Martin Hernandez and Felipe Contepomi both absent there is a threadbare look to their back line. Yet the last time Argentina played and beat England at Twickenham they needed only eight forwards and a kicking machine to claim the win. They certainly possess a strong pack with men such as Rodrigo Roncero and Patricio Albacete laying claim to being among the finest exponents of their grinding style.
"England will not want – or should not want - to trundle around for the long periods of play, like they did against Australia. Otherwise they could find themselves ground into the green grass of Twickenham. Presumably the inclusion of Dylan Hartley and James Haskell is an attempt to remedy this possibility.
"With New Zealand coming fast on the horizon this is a game that Martin Johnson’s team has to win. England need more dynamism up front and more deception behind the scrum. The management are on trial as much as the team for whom only Jonny Wilkinson and Lewis Moody emerged with any real credit from last Saturday’s debacle against Australia."
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