Captain Jamie George says England are considering the prospect of walking off the pitch should any of their players suffer racial abuse against Argentina on Saturday.
- San Juan win marred by racial abuse targeting England substitutes Asher Opoku-Fordjour and Chandler Cunningham-South.
- World Rugby condemned the abuse but could not identify perpetrators.
- Previous meeting saw Argentina coach Felipe Contepomi accuse England flanker Tom Curry of swearing, pushing and bullying in the tunnel.
- Argentine Rugby Federation warns fans against racial abuse via tickets, screens, announcements and enforces a mandatory provincial code of conduct.
Last year’s win in San Juan was marred by abuse targeting England replacements Asher Opoku-Fordjour and Chandler Cunningham-South.
Governing body World Rugby condemned the incident but was unable to identify any perpetrators.
The last meeting between the teams, in November, ended in a heated exchange, with Argentina coach Felipe Contepomi calling England flanker Tom Curry a “bully” who swore at him and pushed him in the tunnel at Allianz Stadium.
Add in to the mix a Lionel Messi-inspired comeback in Wednesday’s football World Cup semi-final and it promises to be a passionate atmosphere in Santiago del Estero in northern Argentina.
The Argentine Rugby Federation (UAR) now displays messages warning fans against racial abuse via tickets, screens, stadium announcements and match programmes. There is also a mandatory code of conduct that all Argentina’s provincial unions must abide by.
Argentina v England
Nations Championship
Saturday 18 July, 20:10 BST kick-off
Estadio Unico Madre de Ciudades, Santiago del Estero
Live on BBC Radio 5 Live, BBC Sounds, BBC Sport website and app, with accompanying live text commentary
George, who is captaining the side with Maro Itoje rested, said leaving the field of play is an option should any abuse happen again.
He said: “It’s something being considered. If anything like that happened then it deserves the strongest of reactions. There is no place for that in the world and I feel incredibly strongly about that.
“We’ve had discussions around ‘what if?’. I really hope – and I’m optimistic – that the Argentinian Rugby Union has taken it very seriously. At the same time we’ve got a plan B if that doesn’t happen.
“The first thing we’d do is make the referee aware of what we’ve seen so it can be properly logged and all the protocols can go into play. What we do outside of that we’re still deciding.”
George, 35, was a late withdrawal from the starting XV in San Juan last year after being called up for the Lions tour to Australia but was present for the game.
“It’s something I will remember for the rest of my life when I heard what had happened – and it wasn’t directed at me,” he said.
“It was directed at my team-mates and I care about my team-mates more than anything.
“I will continue to have conversations with a select group of players from different ethnic backgrounds and we will come up with a plan.”
England have won nine of their past 10 meetings with the Pumas.
