Nations Championship: England switch Buenos Aires hotel to avoid potential Argentina World Cup party | Rugby Union News

England were forced to change hotels in Buenos Aires on Sunday night to avoid any celebrations if Argentina won the World Cup.

Thousands of fans gathered around the famous obelisk in the Plaza de la Repubblica on Wednesday night to celebrate Thomas Tuchel’s side’s 2-1 World Cup semi-final victory – directly outside the hotel where England are based in the Argentine capital.

Fireworks were set off throughout the night and players and staff were given earplugs to sleep through the noise, while steel fencing was erected around the hotel as a precautionary measure.

England travel to Santiago del Estero for Saturday’s clash with the Pumas but return to Buenos Aires 24 hours later, risking the sight of millions descending on the obelisk after Argentina win the World Cup in 2022.

Argentina chose a new hotel near the airport before returning home on Monday to avoid any logistical problems in the event of defeat to Spain in the final.

“I’m not suggesting that everyone slept very well last night – there are fireworks at 4am today,” Borthwick said.

“Most of us were on the other side of the hotel and everyone was given earplugs, so we were prepared for that.
“I went to the balcony of the hotel overlooking the street quite late and there were still a lot of players just watching it and just taking it. People were jumping on the street for hours. The fireworks were going off. It was something to see.

“Of course we all wanted England to win but one of the experiences of the tour is to see such a spectacle in different parts of the world.”

England announced an unchanged team against PumasHenry Pollock failed to replace Ben Earl or Guy Pepper in the back row after scoring a hat-trick as a substitute against Fiji last Saturday.

Already a talking point among Argentina’s rugby fans, footage emerged of the 21-year-old taunting a crowd of locals, many of whom were wearing national colours.

The incident happened on the team bus as England returned to their hotel after training on Wednesday, with Pollock making several faces and signaling for them to remain calm.

Borthwick spared Pollock, who is on the bench for the final leg of England’s tour in July.

“Henry is full of character,” the England head coach said. “We want character in our game and we want character in our squad.

“This squad really embraces what he brings. It takes all sorts of different personalities and we’ve got players who won’t do it and then you’ve got Henry who will go and do it.

“We embrace it. I think it’s done in good nature and it comes from a very good place.”

2026 Nations Championship summer fixtures – all kick-off times BST

4 July

• New Zealand 34-32 France
• Japan 27-10 Italy
• Australia 31-33 Ireland
• Fiji 24-39 Wales
• South Africa 45-21 England
• Argentina 38-47 Scotland

11 July

18 July

• New Zealand vs Ireland (8.10 am)
• Japan vs France (9.40 am)
• Australia vs Italy (11.10am)
• Fiji v Scotland (2.10pm)
• South Africa vs Wales (4.40pm)
• Argentina vs England (8.10pm)