Dark clouds scudded over Twickenham and English rugby in general today. The old cabbage patch has seen some great games of rugby but it is safe to say this was not one of them. Minimal spark, loads of perspiration, precious little excitement until the final quarter. England did win, eventually, thanks to Matt Banahan's 70th-minute try but the abiding image was of Martin Johnson banging his head in frustration in the stands.
With the All Blacks to come, at least England are off the mark in the Investec Challenge series in terms of victories and tries. For a long time it appeared they would finish with neither in a contest largely confined to the breakdown and the air. Even Jonny Wilkinson missed three successive kicks. A gusting wind was the true winner with the Pumas probably deserving of a draw. It required some gallant last-gasp defence to ensure it did not happen.
Banahan's late surge notwithstanding, it was a grey day all round. Pity the man required to stitch together a package of first-half video highlights. Aside from Lewis Moody's fine marauding effort and Wilkinson's place-kicking there was precious little to persuade the crowd they had made the right decision to part with their money. England looked fearful and their lack of ambition was not solely a symptom of the weather.
Argentina, with debutants at inside centre and on the left wing, were far less constrained in their own no-nonsense way. To watch Juan Martín Fernández Lobbe rampaging around was to marvel afresh at the passion the Pumas exude every time they pull on the sky-blue and white hoops. England looked mechanical by comparison.
The home side's cunning tactical masterplan was to belt the ball into the clouds at every possible opportunity and wait for Argentina to drop it. When that failed to happen they seemed almost nonplussed by the visitors' refusal to do the decent thing. If nothing else England have to recognise they will not win many big Tests, let alone score a try or two, without a more positive outlook. They also need to revert to a specialist full-back. Ugo Monye is a top-class winger but moving him inside is doing no one any favours, aside from opposition fly-halves.
It is also worth remembering that this was an Argentina team without three world-class players in Juan Martín Hernández, Felipe Contepomi and Juan Martín Leguizamón. All three will be around come the World Cup in 2011 when the Pumas will occupy the same pool as England and Scotland. England will also have some fresh legs but, above all, they need a fresh mindset.
