Argentina’s head coach, Felipe Contepomi, labeled England’s flanker, Tom Curry, as a “bully” following a heated altercation in the tunnel after England’s 27-23 victory at Allianz Stadium. The incident stemmed from Curry’s tackle on Juan Cruz Mallia, which resulted in Mallia exiting the game due to a suspected ACL knee injury, leaving Argentina with 14 players to finish the match.
Contepomi confronted Curry about the tackle, leading to a scuffle between the teams that escalated to Curry allegedly shoving the coach. Contepomi expressed his displeasure, stating that Curry’s actions were disrespectful and lacking in remorse for the injury caused. Contepomi highlighted the importance of mutual respect and care in rugby to prevent dangerous situations.
In response to the incident, England’s head coach, Steve Borthwick, defended Curry’s character, emphasizing his respectfulness and teamwork. Borthwick, unaware of the specifics of the tunnel altercation, preferred to focus on the competitive nature of the match rather than the off-field incident.
Despite the controversy, England secured their 11th consecutive victory by overcoming Argentina’s late surge in a hard-fought Test match. Borthwick commended his team’s performance, acknowledging the challenges faced and expressing optimism for the team’s future development.