Argentina head coach Felipe Contepomi has accused England flanker Tom Curry of bullying behaviour and pushing him after England’s 27-23 victory at Twickenham descended into anger and controversy after the final whistle.
Curry was penalised for a late tackle on Argentina fullback Juan Cruz Mallia late in the Test when the Pumas were trailing 27-16.
As a result, Mallia was forced from the field with a knee injury, and, because Argentina had used all their reserves they were forced to play the remainder of the match with 14 men.
They did well regardless, with Rodrigo Isgro’s converted try in the 80th minute, after an earlier one for Joaquin Oviedo was ruled out by the television match official, setting up a grandstand finish.
Argentina went all out for the winning try but England’s steal in a lineout 10 metres from their line five minutes after the fulltime siren allowed them to hold on for the victory and a clean sweep of their autumn internationals.
Tempers flared after the fulltime whistle, however, with a scuffle on the pitch continuing into the tunnel where Contepomi’s alleged interaction with Curry occurred.
In the post-match press conference, Contepomi, a former Argentina international, complained about the incident which saw Mallia forced from the field but was not checked by the television match official.
“I don’t understand how we ended up with a man down after a ‘slightly late’, I would call it reckless [tackle].
“We ended up playing with 14, they ended up playing with 15 and it wasn’t even checked out."
Contepomi, who was visibly upset on the sideline before the final whistle, added: “Let me say, it is not only that. Because probably it is part of his nature to bully people. But he came off in the tunnel and he gave me a little smack. I’m 48. Not a smack, a push, a hit here on the chest. So maybe it is his nature I don't know. Probably those are the guys we are rewarding and we praise. Maybe that’s where we want rugby to go, I don’t know.”
“I was standing there, he was coming in, he wanted to say hi to one of our coaches because we were upset. He was reckless and broke our player’s knee. I know it’s rugby, but if we don’t look after each other in rugby, it could be dangerous. When he came, I said, ‘man, you broke our player’s knee’. He said ‘f*** off’ and pushed me like that.
“Maybe that’s the way he is, I don’t know him. I don’t know him. Now, I would say, I’m not happy with the situation. They’re breaking someone’s knee, I think you need to be at least humble enough and respectful to say ‘sorry, I did something wrong’. But he went the opposite. So maybe it’s his way of being a bully? If we want bullies in this game, good on them.”
Contempomi added: "Luckily, there are probably cameras there, so I’ll show it."
England head coach Steve Borthwick said of Curry: “His character is impeccable… he’s a fantastic team man and a very respectful guy.”
England accounted for Australia, Fiji, New Zealand and Argentina at home this month.
Unfortunately for the Pumas, they could not recreate their comeback from a 0-21 deficit against Scotland in Edinburgh a week later in south west London.
SHARE ME