Rugby: Argentina tour confirmed by Woodward

Clive Woodward today confirmed that England will tour Argentina this summer.

England are set to play one Test match against the Pumas, plus a couple of other fixtures.

However, no decision has yet been made whether England will also take on South Africa following the cancellation of their proposed South Sea Islands trip.

England’s initial plans had been to tackle Fiji, Samoa and Tonga in June, but those games were ruled out because of a clash of fixtures in both hemispheres.

‘‘We are definitely going to Argentina,’’ said Woodward.

‘‘It is looking like one Test and some other games there, and I am happy with that.’’

England have played Argentina on 10 occasions, winning seven times, but they have been beaten twice in South America, the last occasion being in 1997.

Woodward is set to take a strong squad, but his Test Lions in Australia last summer are unlikely to be involved.

That would mean a welcome break for the likes of Jonny Wilkinson, Austin Healey, Richard Hill and Martin Johnson, among others.

The Rugby Football Union are currently dotting the i’s and crossing the t’s with regard to this summer’s overseas trip, with confirmation of the exact itinerary expected in the near future.

In the meantime, England boss Woodward is concentrating on his team’s final Lloyds TSB Six Nations Championship clash against Italy in Rome on Sunday.

England can still retain their Six Nations crown, but those hopes hinge entirely on Ireland defeating tournament favourites France in Paris 24 hours earlier.

If Ireland win, repeating their Paris victory of two years ago, and England record their anticipated runaway success against Italy, then Woodward’s men will take the title on points difference.

England will travel to Rome with a side showing just one change from that which defeated Wales in record-breaking fashion last time out.

Former rugby league star Jason Robinson has recovered from injury to regain the full-back position, so Healey drops down to the bench where he will join fellow Lions like Johnson, Lawrence Dallaglio and Matt Dawson.

Regarding Johnson’s surprise appearance amongst the substitutes, Woodward said: ‘‘Martin knows that he is in a very competitive position.

‘‘I thought that the whole team played well against Wales, especially Danny Grewcock and Ben Kay in the second row. They had outstanding games.’’

With Johnson among the replacements, his Leicester team-mate Neil Back retains the captaincy, a fitting way to mark winning his 50th cap.