England secured a 31-24 victory over Argentina on Saturday, but fly-half Fin Smith voiced frustration over persistent discipline issues that he says undermine the team's potential. The win marked back-to-back Test successes for the first time since November, yet Smith rated England only seven out of ten, highlighting that they narrowly avoided squandering a 19-3 half-time lead.
Discipline remains a major concern
England collected four more yellow cards against Argentina, bringing their total to 14 in ten Tests this year. Smith lamented that he has spent 25-30% of his recent England appearances with a teammate in the sin bin. "It is frustrating because I think we're a very good team with 15 men on the pitch," he said. "There's probably a bit of personal responsibility to not keep doing stuff that gets you pinged."
Head coach Steve Borthwick criticized the "negativity committee" of travelling media for focusing on the issue, but Smith was more candid. He acknowledged that England fans expect more than five defeats in eight Tests this calendar year. "People just want to see us win, which I think is fair," he added. "There's no reason we shouldn't be a powerhouse in international rugby."
Feyi-Waboso provides attacking spark
Manny Feyi-Waboso made a significant impact on his return, having missed the Six Nations and broken his jaw playing for Exeter. The 23-year-old wing said he still cannot chew properly and experiences pain after games, but his ability to break tackles and score tries adds a new dimension to England's attack. "It started not great in South Africa, really not great at all," Feyi-Waboso said. "Then we fixed some things against Fiji and managed to get away with one today. It's consistency, isn't it? Not having 15 men on the pitch for the majority of the time is a huge factor."
Positive signs and squad depth
England's forward pack impressed, with George Martin, Ollie Chessum, and Joe Heyes performing well, while Henry Slade's recall improved backline fluency. Borthwick's selections were driven by short-term imperatives, but four debutants—Noah Caluori, Benhard van Rensburg, George Kloska, and Manny Iyogun—gained valuable experience. The team will also benefit from the return of Maro Itoje, George Furbank, Will Stuart, and Fin Baxter.
Argentina coach Felipe Contepomi criticized England for a "lack of respect" after their noisy celebrations disrupted his press conference. The Pumas narrowly missed a last-gasp try when Bautista Delguy was denied in the corner by Slade's tackle. Despite the win, Smith urged England to use the summer break to reflect and improve consistency. "When we're at our best we look like a smart team that makes good decisions," he said. "I think we owe it to ourselves to show that a lot more than we do."
