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English rugby plumbed new depths on Sunday as the world champions were humbled 25-18 at home by Argentina, the first time the Pumas had won at Twickenham and England's seventh successive defeat.
Substitute flyhalf Federico Todeschini scored 22 points for the visitors, who were well worth their famous win.
Tries by wing Paul Sackey and fullback Iain Balshaw to one by Todeschini were not enough for England, who were booed off by their own fans after an error-strewn performance.
"Yes, it's a very low time for English rugby," captain Martin Corry said.
"Awful was probably an understatement, everyone is absolutely devastated and that's how we should be."
Coach Andy Robinson, however, said he had no plans to stand down. "We will be having discussions, the normal debriefing. with senior management, but I will be preparing the team for South Africa," he told a news conference.
"I remain in charge of the team and no decisions are being made on that.
"In patches we played well but we made lots of careless errors," he said, blaming turnovers and poor kicking. "We gave them 13 points to get back into the game."
Todeschini, who slotted two penalties after coming on in the 24th minute and a third after the restart, took his tally to 16 with the conversion then added two more penalties.
Flyhalf Charlie Hodgson had put England ahead after three minutes with a penalty but he, along with several team mates, had a wretched afternoon and he was replaced early in the second half.
Pumas scrumhalf and captain Agustin Pichot, who had dreamt of crowning a fine career by beating England in their own back yard, was voted man of the match and the Argentine players celebrated the victory with a lap of honour.
"This is one of the most special days of my life," Pichot said, remarkably playing his first game of the season.
"Let's show the world we are here," he told Sky Sports after the Pumas made another telling statement for their inclusion in a major tournament.
There was little to choose between the sides in the first half which ended 10-9 to England.
England Tries
Argentina had the better of the opening 20 minutes, dominating possession and territory, and would not have been flattered if they had taken a substantial lead.
An interception by centre Miguel Avramovic was halted by Balshaw but a penalty then allowed Contepomi to level the score.
Hernandez was just wide of the far post with an attempt at at drop goal after a fine break from deep including a neat chip and pick-up.
Just past the half hour Sackey scurried between two players and ran round Hernandez to touch down on the right. Hodgson converted to open a short-lived seven-point lead.
Argentina went ahead for the first time with Todeschini's third penalty, from out by the right touchline, four minutes into the second half.
Todeschini then intercepted an pass by Hodgson's replacement, debutant Toby Flood, near the halfway line and ran away for his try.
Balshaw broke from deep in the England half for a fine run that brought him England's second try and the home side looked like they might turn the game back their way with some strong running movements.
Flood missed the conversion and tough Argentine defending and many mistakes, prevented England finding a way back.
"We just couldn't execute, errors have killed us, there were a lot, but that wasn't the only reason we lost, our creativity...we just couldn't keep hold of the ball, this is a tough one to take - being booed off at Twickenham," Corry said.
The captain said though that Robinson should not take the blame.
"We are all under pressure here, we put in a very, very sub-standard performance today, there's nobody to blame apart from the players," he said.
Pichot, who has spent most of his professional career playing in England, said: "We knew if we put them under pressure in the second half they could crack.
"We played with everything we had. I said pre-match, 'let's show the world we are here'.
"After the game I said 'let's take 10 seconds to appreciate what we have done, - just beaten the world champions at Twickenham'".
England 18: Paul Sackey, Iain Balshaw tries; Charlie Hodgson con, pen; Toby Flood pen.
Argentina 25: Federico Todeschini try; Federico Todeschini con, 4 pen; Felipe Contepomi 2 pen.
HT: 10-9
http://xtramsn.co.nz/rugby/0,,12416-6554008,00.html
Substitute flyhalf Federico Todeschini scored 22 points for the visitors, who were well worth their famous win.
Tries by wing Paul Sackey and fullback Iain Balshaw to one by Todeschini were not enough for England, who were booed off by their own fans after an error-strewn performance.
"Yes, it's a very low time for English rugby," captain Martin Corry said.
"Awful was probably an understatement, everyone is absolutely devastated and that's how we should be."
Coach Andy Robinson, however, said he had no plans to stand down. "We will be having discussions, the normal debriefing. with senior management, but I will be preparing the team for South Africa," he told a news conference.
"I remain in charge of the team and no decisions are being made on that.
"In patches we played well but we made lots of careless errors," he said, blaming turnovers and poor kicking. "We gave them 13 points to get back into the game."
Todeschini, who slotted two penalties after coming on in the 24th minute and a third after the restart, took his tally to 16 with the conversion then added two more penalties.
Flyhalf Charlie Hodgson had put England ahead after three minutes with a penalty but he, along with several team mates, had a wretched afternoon and he was replaced early in the second half.
Pumas scrumhalf and captain Agustin Pichot, who had dreamt of crowning a fine career by beating England in their own back yard, was voted man of the match and the Argentine players celebrated the victory with a lap of honour.
"This is one of the most special days of my life," Pichot said, remarkably playing his first game of the season.
"Let's show the world we are here," he told Sky Sports after the Pumas made another telling statement for their inclusion in a major tournament.
There was little to choose between the sides in the first half which ended 10-9 to England.
England Tries
Argentina had the better of the opening 20 minutes, dominating possession and territory, and would not have been flattered if they had taken a substantial lead.
An interception by centre Miguel Avramovic was halted by Balshaw but a penalty then allowed Contepomi to level the score.
Hernandez was just wide of the far post with an attempt at at drop goal after a fine break from deep including a neat chip and pick-up.
Just past the half hour Sackey scurried between two players and ran round Hernandez to touch down on the right. Hodgson converted to open a short-lived seven-point lead.
Argentina went ahead for the first time with Todeschini's third penalty, from out by the right touchline, four minutes into the second half.
Todeschini then intercepted an pass by Hodgson's replacement, debutant Toby Flood, near the halfway line and ran away for his try.
Balshaw broke from deep in the England half for a fine run that brought him England's second try and the home side looked like they might turn the game back their way with some strong running movements.
Flood missed the conversion and tough Argentine defending and many mistakes, prevented England finding a way back.
"We just couldn't execute, errors have killed us, there were a lot, but that wasn't the only reason we lost, our creativity...we just couldn't keep hold of the ball, this is a tough one to take - being booed off at Twickenham," Corry said.
The captain said though that Robinson should not take the blame.
"We are all under pressure here, we put in a very, very sub-standard performance today, there's nobody to blame apart from the players," he said.
Pichot, who has spent most of his professional career playing in England, said: "We knew if we put them under pressure in the second half they could crack.
"We played with everything we had. I said pre-match, 'let's show the world we are here'.
"After the game I said 'let's take 10 seconds to appreciate what we have done, - just beaten the world champions at Twickenham'".
England 18: Paul Sackey, Iain Balshaw tries; Charlie Hodgson con, pen; Toby Flood pen.
Argentina 25: Federico Todeschini try; Federico Todeschini con, 4 pen; Felipe Contepomi 2 pen.
HT: 10-9
http://xtramsn.co.nz/rugby/0,,12416-6554008,00.html
