For the second time this week, Argentina and England collide in a sizeable sporting clash – this time on the rugby field, just three days after the football World Cup semi-final erupted into a full-blown diplomatic row over the Falkland Islands. Lionel Messi’s men celebrated their 2-1 win with a makeshift sign reading ‘Las Malvinas son Argentinas’ – the Falkland Islands are Argentinian. Downing Street taunted back: ‘The World Cup might not be ours, but the Falkland Islands definitely are.’
The bitter fall-out has only thickened the atmosphere England’s rugby squad anticipated when they flew to Buenos Aires. Steve Borthwick’s team were forced to change hotel on Sunday night to avoid being caught up in celebrations should Argentina win the World Cup; they later switched to a hotel near the airport ahead of their return home on Monday. ‘It’s a big rivalry now,’ England captain Jamie George said. ‘We look at Argentina on the calendar whenever the fixtures come out and we know it will be a special occasion. On the field we’re very aware that when we play Argentina they’re an incredibly proud nation and it’s going to be hostile. They’re going to be desperate to win, especially on their own turf.’
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The Pumas were already incensed after their last meeting at Twickenham in November, when flanker Tom Curry was branded a bully by Argentina head coach Felipe Contepomi following a skirmish in the tunnel. England have won all five of their meetings under Borthwick, including two victories in South America last summer. But Saturday’s encounter in Santiago del Estero threatened to boil over from the start.
Referee Angus Gardner’s yellow card saw heavy use. Debutant Emmanuel Iyogun was first to the sin bin, quickly followed by Henry Pollock. England finished a spell with 13 men after Marcus Smith was substituted to allow Ellis Genge’s return. Argentina, reduced to 14 themselves when Joaquín Oviedo was binned, pressed for two converted tries in three minutes. A flurry of offsides and scrum resets – ‘Play away or reset,’ Gardner called in English – ate precious seconds. Argentina knocked on after a quick tap, and Benhard Janse van Rensburg appeared to knock himself out in the maelstrom. Medics rushed on as ‘it all kicked off again’. The match ended in a farcical scrum reset, with both front rows stood up and 30 more valuable seconds ticking away.
The issue of the Falklands has not only marred football fixtures. Thirty-six years ago, England’s rugby squad took part in the first tour of Argentina by a British sporting team since the war; players were pelted with objects and contests marred by violence. The Pumas’ social media account still pins a map showing the Falkland Islands as part of Argentinian territory – despite bordering no other countries. The banner row may now fuel another bitter aftermath.