London - Argentina scrumhalf Tomas Cubelli is adamant the best way for the Pumas to beat England at Twickenham on Saturday is by sticking with an attacking approach.
At last year's World Cup in England, the South Americans
were widely praised for the flair and pace of their backs as well as their
traditional forward strength, with the two key aspects of their play working
well in a quarter-final win over Ireland.
But there has been a feeling in some quarters that ever
since their semi-final defeat by Australia that the Pumas have got the balance
wrong, too often throwing the ball around carelessly before first grinding
their way to dominance up front.
They now face an England side looking to maintain their
perfect record for 206 under coach Eddie Jones but Cubelli believes there can
be no going back to an Argentina game based solely on scrum power.
"We have to keep taking calculated risks - the potential reward has to be worth that," said Cubelli of an Argentina side who will arrive at Twickenham following narrow defeats by both Wales and Scotland.
"It could be riskier to step back from that, we feel.
"That's the style of game we'll continue to push. We'll
keep trying to play that kind of game.
"I think England are doing a great job, they are
playing great rugby and everyone is talking about their perfect year.
"That won't make us think too much about them though,
we have to focus on ourselves - there's things we have to fix and keep on
improving.
"We wouldn't be here if we didn't think we could win
this week.
"And so that would be massive for us.".
Utility back Joaquin Tuculet believes a gruelling year for
Argentina, featuring a maiden Super Rugby season for the country's Jaguares
side, may be having an effect on the team.
Players who have enjoyed a full campaign with both the
Jaguares and the Argentina national side will have taken as many as 50
long-haul flights in 35 weeks.
"It's been tough, it's been a long season, playing
Super Rugby and then with Los Pumas," said Tuculet, who previously club
rugby for English Premiership side Sale and Welsh giants Cardiff.
"It's been amazing, but hard. This weekend we have a
chance to change things, in our last game.
"We have great players, we can play far better and so
we expect to improve this weekend.
"We had a very good World Cup, we've sometimes managed
to play some of our best rugby against the top teams.
"I don't know why that is. But it's time for us to
raise the level again."
Tuculet added: "England have a very good squad, they
have had a fantastic year.
"England did brilliantly in Australia, and in the Six
Nations too.
"They have great confidence from their coach and this will definitely be a tough game for us."