Steve Borthwick hits out at ‘negativity committee' as Danny Care warns that England 'won't win big games' unless discipline 'sorted out'

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England defeated Argentina in a bad-tempered Nations Championship match on Saturday evening, leaving them in third place in their Northern Hemisphere group. Steve Borthwick played down concerns over his side's discipline after four players were sent to the sin bin.

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England were 31-24 winners in Argentina in their last of the first block of fixtures for the tournament, before the competition restarts in November back in the Northern Hemisphere.

That was England’s second win of the tournament, and with a single defeat to their name, they sit third in their table.

England have incurred 14 yellow cards in their last eight Test matches, as well as a red card, reflecting a poor disciplinary record.

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Leading 19-3 at half-time, England then had Jack van Poortvliet, Alex Coles, Henry Pollock and Emmanuel Iyogun sent to the sin bin. For nine minutes, Borthwick’s side were down to 13 men as they struggled to hold on for their victory.

Argentina took to the pitch in a kit inspired by their compatriots' 1986 World Cup victory over England in a throwback to that bitterly contested football match, and there was another fractious atmosphere in Saturday's clash.

Asked about the problems with discipline on Saturday evening, Borthwick gave the matter short shrift.

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”I don’t think now is the time to be digging into that,” he told the press.

”This team has done really, really well. It was a tough Test match, a fantastic Test match, we scored some wonderful tries and as ever, you guys concentrate on the negativity.

”You’re like the negativity committee, so it’s lovely coming and talking to you again.”

Instead, he praised his players for their efforts, for holding onto the win.

He added: ”I’m delighted for the players. They showed incredible spirit, led brilliantly by Jamie George.

”Matches between England and Argentina, whatever the sport, seem to end up being very tight late on and full of drama.

”It’s almost unfair to pull out one example but Henry Slade’s tackle at the end was incredible.

”It shows the fight that’s in this group of players, as well as their togetherness and connection.

”Right now these players deserve a fantastic holiday, a good night out and a good rest.

”They’ve worked hard, and it’s been a season that’s been going a while.

”We all know about the number of minutes the English players play and these guys have stuck at it right to the very end.”

‘Something Steve has got to sort out’

Former England international Danny Care urged Borthwick to use the break before the next round of games to address the problem, and warned of the consequences if they do not keep their players on the pitch.

Care, speaking on ITV, said: ”I've had a few myself, but that's 15 yellow cards [sic] and one red in the last eight matches for England.

"It's not people making rash decisions, it's pressure. Forcing people into things where they don't think they have another out than a penalty.

”Pressure and pressure will build up. England won't win those big games if they keep doing that. That's something Steve has got to sort out.

”They've got a few months to work out how to do it. Come November, when the team comes back together for the Nations Championship and tries to get into the top-level games, they've got to keep men on the field.”

In their next Nations Championship match, England host Australia on Sunday, November 8.

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