England must avoid need to be playing catch-up

The no-nonsense hooker who was an unused member of the squad when they won the World Cup in Australia in 2003, and the starting No 2 in the final in Paris four years later, is confident his countrymen can make it a hat-trick of final appearances in New Zealand over the next seven weeks.

But to do that they must begin Pool B with victory over the Pumas, who were the surprise package in France in 2007.

Argentina won the bronze medal, and although they have slipped to ninth in the rankings – due largely to the fact that they do not play in Six Nations or Tri-Nations competitions in the intervening years – Regan believes they remain formidable opponents.

“It’s a very tough opener. Argentina are a very well-respected team and they perform well on the highest stage, as they did last time in France, beating the hosts in the opening match and then finishing third,” said the 39-year-old former Leeds Tykes forward.

“They seem to lift their game. They may have slipped to ninth in the rankings but they’re always strong and you under-estimate them at your peril.

“The first game for England is all about going out and getting that win under their belts, by hook or by crook.

“Because if you don’t, the rest of the group is out of your hands and you’re playing catch-up.

“We have just got to get through that first phase as winners. That first hurdle on Saturday is a big one, but get over that potential banana skin and you’re off and running.”

Much has been made of the anticipated attritional battle that will ensue among two renowned packs in Dunedin tomorrow, but Regan feels Martin Johnson’s side have the experience and nous needed to overcome their opponents.

Regan, whose World Cup team-mate of 2003 Mike Tindall was yesterday named as captain for tomorrow’s game, explained: “They’re big lads up front but England have got as good a scrum as any and should be able to contain them.

“Argentina are pretty tight in the lineout and have good forward play, but England can match them pound for pound.

“But games aren’t won and lost up front, they’re won by the whole team.

“The reason Argentina are such a handful is they have a lot of players who ply their trade in England and in France, and because of that their skill levels have massively improved.”

Despite the magnitude of the opening game and the importance to the pattern of England’s World Cup campaign, Regan remains bullish that his countrymen’s tournament savvy will serve them well.

Four years ago Brian Ashton’s men were written off before the tournament and suffered a crushing 36-0 defeat to South Africa in the pool phase.

They limped through to the knockout phase and gathered momentum from there, defeating Australia and France en route to a rematch with the Springboks in the Stade de France.

But after a period of improvement over the last 18 months, Regan believes Johnson’s men are better equipped to succeed in New Zealand.

“Johno has got some world-class players at his disposal and England are one of the most successful sides in World Cup history,” he said.

“They rise to the pressure, as we did four years ago, and I can’t see that changing.

“All the hard work has been done. It’s now about getting the top two inches right before going out and playing. They should be full of confidence in the way they have prepared.”

England’s preparations this week have been a mix of training and formalities.

They attended religious ceremonies and also paid a goodwill visit to Christchurch on Wednesday to the remember those lost in the February earthquake which devastated the city in which England were initially scheduled to play two games.

“You deal with the formalities,” said Regan, who was capped 46 times by England, with five of those coming during the last World Cup. “It’s right to remember the people that died in the earthquake.

“And while doing that you can for a moment put rugby to the back of your mind.

“But the players and the management are there to do a job.

“Four years ago in France we went to the Somme and to Normandy to remember the lost, and that’s all part of the build-up.

“The players must use that as down time, remembering the people that died but also relaxing.

“The real work starts tomorrow morning.”

With Otley-born Tindall taking the armband from the injured Lewis Moody, Johnson’s other big call for the Argentina test sees Delon Armitage come in on the wing in place of Mark Cueto, who is sidelined with a back injury.

England’s only other change from the Ireland victory is the return of No 8 Nick Easter, who had missed the game with a tight calf, with James Haskell switching to the open-side. Scrum-half Ben Youngs will make his comeback off the bench after a knee injury ruled him out of England’s three warm-up internationals.