England’s rugby team have been forced to switch hotels in Buenos Aires because of the chaos caused by Argentina’s World Cup victory.
Tens of thousands of fans gathered in the Plaza de la República on Wednesday night, celebrating their football team’s 2-1 win over England with a huge street party.
Flares and fireworks were set off throughout the night, with barricades erected outside England’s team hotel to provide additional security.
Steve Borthwick’s side were due to return to the same hotel on Sunday, but Argentina’s progression to the final means the area is braced for more chaos over the weekend.
‘I wouldn’t suggest that everybody got a great night’s sleep for a lot of hours,’ said Borthwick. ‘There were still fireworks going off at 4am in the morning out there.
‘At the same time, most of us were on the other side of the hotel, so we were prepared for that. There were earplugs given to everybody.
Fans with loud hailers gathered in Buenos Aires to celebrate Argentina’s win over England
Fireworks were set off amid joyous scenes in the capital, as thousands of fans hit the streets
‘I went up to the balcony that overlooks everything fairly late and there were still a load of players just watching it and just taking it in. We’d obviously all wanted England to win but having seen a spectacle like that, it’s one of the experiences of touring. People jumping up and down for hours in the streets. Fireworks going off. It was something to see.’
Anti-English tensions were high, with flags burned and revellers spotted spraying graffiti about Argentina’s right to the Falkland Islands.
If Argentina beat Spain on Sunday then the celebrations will spill into Monday, meaning England’s team bus would struggle to depart for the airport.
Videos of Henry Pollock goading Argentinean fans from team coach have circulated around the internet, but Borthwick insisted it was all in good spirits.
‘Henry’s full of character,’ said Borthwick. ‘We want character in our game and we want character in our squad. This squad really embraces what he brings. We’ve got some players who wouldn’t do that and then you’ve got Henry who would go and do that. What we do, we embrace it. I think it was in good nature. I think it came from a very good place.’
Pollock has been named on the bench for Saturday’s match in Santiago del Estero, with Borthwick naming an unchanged starting XV.
