Argentina Rugby News

There's so much to get into ahead of the opening weekend. We put the call out for your questions and now we're putting the best of them to Sir Clive - here's what he had to say...

The next month represents heaven for rugby fans. It promises to be action of the highest quality - and a chance for a new era of stars to cement their status as talents worthy of the international stage.

DAN BIGGAR: Steve Borthwick's decision to go for George Ford at No 10 is one that can't be argued with - and it gives big clues about how England are going to play against Australia.

Since returning to his home city of Cardiff from Bristol Bears in the summer of 2024, Callum Sheedy has had a more than eventful time of it.

Growing up just south of Newcastle, there was barely a weekend in the calendar when Guy Pepper was not standing beside a rugby pitch.

A new chapter beckons for England as they welcome back their Lions stars and begin to nail down a team that can bring home the 2027 World Cup.

On a warm summer's evening in Quinta do Lago, a couple of stools were set up in the team room at Sale's training camp for An Audience with George Ford.

ALEX BYWATER: World Rugby has said it regrets they cannot identify the individuals who targeted Asher Opoku-Fordjour and Chandler Cunningham-South with sickening racist abuse on July 12.

CHRIS FOY IN DUBLIN: As Argentina's jubilant players celebrated wildly on the Aviva Stadium pitch, many of them close to tears, the Lions gathered in a sombre huddle.

ALEX BYWATER AT THE AVIVA STADIUM: After months of anticipation, the 2025 British & Irish Lions tour got off to a false start. Here is a look at the players who stood out for and who struggled.

ALEX BYWATER IN DUBLIN: From Quinta do Lago to the Aviva Stadium, the sun has followed the British & Irish Lions around since Andy Farrell's squad first met up in Richmond on May 18.

CHRIS FOY: The Smiths are back together again and what a precious opportunity this is for England's leading playmakers to call the tune for the Lions.

SIR CLIVE WOODWARD: In 2005, I was Lions head coach and we too began with a warm-up against Argentina. Things didn't quite go to plan.

At last, here it is, a global guide to help oval-ball enthusiasts plan the best places to take in a fixture - close to home or thousands of miles away.

The former wing's progress since retiring as a player has been as swift as it has been impressive. England boss Borthwick and Sale director of rugby Alex Sanderson are both big fans.

NIK SIMON: The British and Irish Lions have received an invitation they must not ignore. Project 'Beyond 2025' is already underway as rugby's greatest touring team plots its future.

ALEX BYWATER: At the conclusion of England's series defeat by New Zealand last month, Steve Borthwick looked on the bright side of two narrow losses by the cumulative margin of just eight points.

The 25-year-old shared the clip on his Instagram account after kicking a penalty in France's 28-13 victory over Argentina on July 6. He then apologised for the comments and deleted the post.

The door has opened for a homecoming reunion at the Wallabies with former coach Michael Cheika making the shock decision to walk out on Argentina and become available for the Australian top job.

NIK SIMON: Mail Sport understands Premiership clubs have been sounded out about the possibility of a prominent role for the renamed national team.

NIK SIMON AT STADE DE FRANCE: Big brother Tom, who sang the anthem beside Ben in 2012, reminisced about the first time he fell victim to his sidestep on the family farm.

Follow Mail Sport's live blog for the latest scores and updates as England take on Argentina in the bronze medal match at the Rugby World Cup. 

NIK SIMON IN PARIS: It will be Youngs's first start of this World Cup - a sentimental selection by Steve Borthwick for the bronze medal match - and a final farewell.

CHRIS FOY IN PARIS: Rarely has any team in the history of Rugby World Cups carried so much multi-dimensional motivation into one of these matches.

SIR CLIVE WOODWARD: I've picked my team for the 2027 World Cup and excitingly of the 15 players I've selected, eight of them are involved against Argentina.

CHRIS FOY IN PARIS: A glaring mismatch at the Stade de France was the sad consequence of the imbalanced draw. This semi which was so one-sided that it undermined the credibility of the event.

Recap Mail Sport's live blog for all the latest as Argentina look to reach their first ever Rugby World Cup final but face a tough test against the All Blacks.

Micheal Cheika's side advanced to the final four of the tournament for only the third time in the history of the tournament following their win against Wales .

EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW BY CHRIS FOY AND NIK SIMON: After three years of keeping his counsel, Agustin Pichot is finally ready to break his silence. 'Talk soon,' he says over WhatsApp.

ALEX BYWATER: Warren Gatland committed his future to Wales after their World Cup exit and then insisted he believes Steve Borthwick's England can shock South Africa in the semi-finals in France.

Former Argentina captain Agustin Pichot is concerned about the future of the sport ahead of this weekend's semi-finals at the Rugby World Cup.

The side are in the throes of preparations for their Rugby World Cup semi-final on Friday evening, where they will meet Argentina at Stade de France in the nation's capital.

Amid the devastation of their missed World Cup opportunity, Wales took consolation from a revived sense of optimism about the future - which Josh Adams hopes will be led by Warren Gatland.

Ex-Wallabies coach Michael Cheika has steered Argentina into the Rugby World Cup semi-finals with a stunning 29-17 win over Wales - and reminded the Wallabies just what they're missing.

The squad numbers peeled off the shirts of Wales players within minutes of their quarter-final in Marseille on Saturday - and social media users were quick to mock the problem.

Follow Mail Sport's live blog as Wales take on Argentina in the first of the four Rugby World Cup quarter-finals with Jac Morgan set to captain Warren Gatland's side.

DAN BIGGAR: I'm fully aware that Saturday could be my last day as a Wales player but I want to be here until the end of the month. We're here to win and are confident we can beat Argentina.

CHRIS FOY IN TOULON: Head coach Warren Gatland has been able to name the experienced Lions at fly-half and full-back respectively, in a major boost to Welsh prospects in Marseille.

SIR CLIVE WOODWARD: For the first time in World Cup history, northern hemisphere teams topped all the pools, setting up four intriguing quarter-finals.

A day after Wales No 8 Taulupe Faletau suffered a tournament-ending broken arm in Nantes, Michael Cheika's Pumas also saw one of their stars fall lame at the same venue.

With the Pumas losing to England in their opening Pool D fixture, they needed to beat the Samoans to keep alive their realistic hopes of progressing into the knockout stage.

SIR CLIVE WOODWARD: I'm a huge fan of Farrell and have argued for him to start at No 10, but the most important aspect you have to master when coaching at international level is selection.

CHRIS FOY IN LE TOUQUET: Curry has been punished by the judiciary, whereas no action was taken against either South Africa centre Jesse Kriel or Chile captain Martin Sigren.

CHRIS FOY IN FRANCE: England's stirring defensive revival against Argentina last Saturday was inspired by 'rocket' man Kevin Sinfield, who delivered some stark home truths to the squad.

MIKE BROWN: What a relief for England to finally get back to winning ways - and what a tactical masterclass from George Ford to inspire it!

This wasn't a perfect performance from England but it was solid enough and the likes of Jamie George and Courtney Lawes gave strong accounts. And then there was George Ford.

SIR CLIVE WOODWARD: In the build-up to England's World Cup opener with Argentina on Saturday night, I wrote about the need for Steve Borthwick 's side to maintain their discipline.

OLIVER HOLT, CHIEF SPORTS WRITER, IN MARSEILLE: There is a bronze sculpture near the Vieux Port called Bleu de Chine. It depicts a man newly-arrived in Marseille, a case in his left hand.

Fans attending England's Rugby World Cup match against Argentina in Marseille on Saturday faced long delays getting into the stadium.

Relive Mail Sport's live blog as England beat Argentina 27-10 at the Stade Velodrome thanks to a stunning performance from George Ford, who scored all the points in Marseille.

LUKE AUGUSTUS AT THE O2 ARENA: Dan Cole is under no illusions about the problems Argentina will pose for England's in their Rugby World Cup game but believes they have the experience to cope.

OLIVER HOLT - CHIEF SPORTS WRITER IN MARSEILLE: This city and this stadium are not the kind of places a team wants to visit when it is vulnerable.

Steve Borthwick 's has suffered many injury blows to his squad in the build-up to the tournament - which will take place in France.

EXCLUSIVE: Argentina's error rate is low and their conversion rate in the 22 has been high. They are no longer regarded as underdogs for this weekend's match with England in Marseille.

NIK SIMON IN LE TOUQET: He will in the stands for the opening Pool C Tests against Argentina and Japan, with George Ford likely to take over at No10 for the two matches.

The fact England are significant underdogs for their World Cup pool opener with Argentina shows just how far the national team has fallen.

EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW BY NIK SIMON IN PARIS: The manager of the restaurant knows who is coming. 'Bernard Laporte? OK. We open a private area for him,' says the boss.

ALEX BYWATER IN MADRID:There can now be no doubt it is the Pumas and not England who will be favourites when they meet a week on Saturday on the World Cup's opening weekend.

ALEX BYWATER IN MADRID: At Twickenham on Saturday, England lurched into the World Cup on the back of an embarrassing defeat to Fiji.There were no such worries for Argentina.

This year's tournament is scheduled to take place in France, with South Africa looking to successfully retain the trophy.

CHRIS FOY: Owen Farrell should discover his World Cup fate late on Tuesday, by which time England head coach Steve Borthwick will have accelerated his contingency plans.

Eddie Jones has compared the Wallabies to an old car that keeps breaking down after Australia lost a thrilling Rugby Championship 34-31 against Argentina in Sydney on Saturday night.

The Wallabies' World Cup preparations lay in tatters after a demoralising 34-31 Rugby Championship loss to Argentina in Sydney.

Rugby fans have leapt to the defence of New Zealand skipper Sam Cane after he lashed out and kicked a pitch invader in Argentina, with fans split as to whether he should have to apologise.

The 31-year-old Saracens playmaker took part in contact drills in training at the national team's Surrey base on Wednesday and there is a growing belief that he will pass return-to-play protocols on Friday.

England prop Mako Vunipola has received a three-week ban after being sent off in Saracens' Gallagher Premiership victory over Newcastle.

Wallabies legend Will Genia has called for Michael Cheika to be re-instated as Australia's coach come the 2027 Rugby World Cup, saying the Los Pumas head has a winning mentality

Michael Cheikha's Argentina pulled off a historic upset as they beat the All Blacks in New Zealand for the first time, piling more pressure on the shoulders of under-fire Kiwi coach Ian Foster. 

The Scots had lost 26-18 last week but ran in four tries through Hamish Watson, Mark Bennett, Matt Fagerson and Sam Johnson and scored 21 unanswered second-half points.

SIR CLIVE WOODWARD: For England, Ireland, Wales and Scotland to beat Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and Argentina away from home is a massive boost for the European game.

The British and Irish Lion said he is treating the game as 'a cup final' as Gregor Townsend's men bid to take the three-Test series into a deciding match next week.

Townsend said it was his own sides failings in the first half - not the referee - that ultimately cost them the first Test in the three-match series but he didn't think they got the rub of the green when it came to decisions.

English star Will Homer scored one of the most bizarre tries ever seen at the World Rugby Sevens tournament in Toulouse, with prominent referee Nigel Owens blasting the blatant time-wasting.

EXCLUSIVE BY LUKE AUGUSTUS: Ex-Test referee Nigel Owens has stated his desire for the Six Nations to maintain it's status quo, declaring no wish to see South Africa join the tournament.

Great Britain were beaten 17-12 by Argentina in the bronze medal match. They missed out on a second successive podium finish after taking a silver medal behind Fiji in Rio five years ago.

Wales were 6-3 up before Argentina lost Juan Cruz Mallia to a first-half red card. However, the Pumas put that setback to one side and went 20-6 ahead before Wales started to exploit the man advantage.

Liverpool have once again been nominated for the Team of the Year gong at this year's Laureus World Sports Awards after they finally won the first ever Premier League title last season.

With tight restrictions on travel into the country, Australia are already hosting large crowds for cricket and tennis events. It is unlikely that travelling supporters would be permitted entry.

CHRIS FOY: Eddie Jones won't have any complaints about Monday's World Cup draw as England have been given a promising pathway towards the later stages of the 2023 tournament.