Five things we learned about England from the Nations Championship

England signed off their July tour with a deserved 31-24 victory over Argentina in Santiago del Estero.

Here, the Press Association looks at five things learned from the ‘Southern Series’ of the Nations Championship.

England’s epic journey
A 25,000-mile odyssey taking in three continents produced a solid return of two wins from three Tests despite a brutal schedule that poses the question as to why the Rugby Football Union agreed to send its stars on four long haul plus four short haul flights in the space of three weeks.

It was the most challenging travel itinerary of any nation and sleep-deprived players were limited to a reduced training schedule in order to recover from the travel. To their credit, England dug out the win against Argentina that spares head coach Steve Borthwick renewed questions over his future.

Borthwick back under review
The five-Test losing run that stalked England into the Nations Champions ended with a 12-try rout of a shambolic Fiji and the recovery continued against the Pumas, but uncertainty still hangs over the Borthwick regime. The game for which there was most preparation time also produced the most disappointing performance as South Africa emerged resounding 45-21 winners at Ellis Park on July 4.

Nations Championship

Northern Hemisphere

P

W

L

D

PF

PA

PD

BP T

BP-7

BP

Total

1

France

3

2

1

0

12

2

Scotland

3

2

1

0

11

3

England

3

2

1

0

10

4

Ireland

3

2

1

0

10

5

Wales

3

1

2

0

5

6

Italy

3

0

3

0

0

Southern Hemisphere

P

W

L

D

PF

PA

PD

BP T

BP-7

BP

Total

1

South Africa

3

3

0

0

15

2

New Zealand

3

3

0

0

15

3

Australia

3

1

2

0

8

4

Argentina

3

1

2

0

7

5

Japan

3

1

2

0

4

6

Fiji

3

0

3

0

0

The RFU had previously backed its head coach until next year’s World Cup but its customary post-campaign review will surely scrutinise what progress has been made since the Six Nations.

England’s Achilles heel
At the top of the review agenda will be the repeated disciplinary failings that surfaced again in Santiago del Estero, this time resulting in the new low of four yellow cards.

There can be no questioning the players’ willingness to fight for each other and ambition was shown in attack, but twice they were reduced to 13 men while the penalty count went 15-6 against them. It was chaotic at times and Borthwick must urgently address a debilitating record of 15 yellow cards in eight Tests this year.

Manny’s X-factor lights the path
Immanuel Feyi-Waboso’s sublime finish in the 69th minute helped England to a sixth victory over Argentina in as many meetings in the Borthwick era and was thrilling confirmation of a special talent.

Injury has limited him to 16 caps but as he repeatedly breached the Pumas defence through a mixture of power and footwork, his importance to next year’s World Cup crusade became clear. In Feyi-Waboso and Tommy Freeman, England posses two electric wings who will spearhead the attack for foreseeable future if they stay fit.

England emerge from the lion’s den
The way the teams are shaping up, England and Argentina could meet again on Nations Championship ‘finals’ weekend in November in what would be the renewal of a rivalry that gets more acrimonious by the game. Apart from the partisan atmosphere in Santiago del Estero – ‘God Save The King’ was booed, ‘La Cuarta Estrella’ was played during the warm-ups and Argentina wore a replica of the 1986 football World Cup kit – the Pumas looked to brawl off the ball at every opportunity during the first half.

Throw in Felipe Contepomi storming out of the post-match media conference because of the celebratory music and cheering coming from England’s changing room next door and the scene is set for another powder keg if they meet again at Allianz Stadium.