"In this same week in November 2000 a pay row led to the entire national side walking out on strike, prompting Clive Woodward to threaten that an alternative team of lower-league amateurs would be chosen if his players did not return to training by 11am the following morning. After a tense standoff they duly did so, a grudging truce was agreed and the weekend game against Argentina went ahead with England winning 19-0."
"Particularly given England's players are paid much better these days, they are winning regularly and Argentina's on-field stock also continues to rise. This year alone the Pumas have beaten the British & Irish Lions and New Zealand, not to mention Scotland at Murrayfield last weekend. For good measure they also defeated England at Twickenham as recently as three years ago."
A 2000 pay dispute saw the England squad strike and Clive Woodward threaten to pick lower-league amateurs unless players returned by 11am. The players returned, a truce was reached, and England beat Argentina 19-0 that weekend. Almost the same group won the Rugby World Cup three years later, illustrating that serious setbacks can precede major success. England have improved and recently beat New Zealand, but Argentina have risen with wins over the Lions, New Zealand and Scotland, and beat England at Twickenham three years ago. With the 2027 World Cup draw approaching, England must consolidate gains and address remaining vulnerabilities rather than grow complacent.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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