England switch hotels ahead of Nations Championship match to avoid potential Argentina World Cup party as Henry Pollock caught shushing fans
Updated 17/07/2026 at 11:08 GMT+1
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England's rugby players have switched hotels in Buenos Aires, in the hope of avoiding the possibility of being caught up in celebrations if Argentina win Sunday's 2026 FIFA World Cup final against Spain.
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Steve Borthwick's team play Argentina in the Nations Championship on Saturday, but are then planning to stay in the city on Sunday before flying back to the UK on Monday.
The team have been residing in a hotel off the city's main square - Plaza de la Republica – with its famous Obelisk monument, always the scene of mass celebrations when Argentina fare well at tournaments.
It was again a sight of frenzied chaos on Wednesday, with huge crowds on the streets to celebrate the semi-final victory over England.
Wary of such scenes again this weekend, the touring party will now stay in a hotel near the city's international airport, on the outskirts of Buenos Aires.
"I wouldn't suggest that everybody got a great night's sleep last night – there were still fireworks going off at 4am this morning," Borthwick said.
"Most of us were on the other side of the hotel and earplugs were issued to everybody, so we were prepared.
"I went up to the hotel terrace that overlooks the street fairly late and there were still a load of players just watching it and just taking it in. People jumping up and down for hours in the streets. Fireworks going off. It was something to see.
"We'd obviously all wanted England to win, but one of the experiences of touring is seeing a spectacle like that in a different part of the world."
England players will likely have woken up disappointed on Thursday, having watched the World Cup semi-final in Atlanta in their hotel.
Argentina fought back late in the game to win 2-1, and set up a showdown with Spain in New Jersey.
Earlier on Wednesday, England flanker Henry Pollock taunted Argentine football fans while on a bus returning from a training session.
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Footage showed Pollock giving fans a thumbs down, sticking out his tongue and shushing them.
Argentina fans responded with a few choice gestures, while one punched the windows.
Borthwick chose to see the lighter side of it all, saying: "Henry's full of character. We want character in our game and we want character in our squad.
"This squad really embraces what he brings. It takes all kinds of different personalities and we've got some players who wouldn't do that, and then you've got Henry who would go and do that.
"We embrace it. I think it was done in good nature and it came from a very good place."
On the pitch, England will attempt to follow up their victory over Fiji last weekend with another win.
Borthwick has named the same starting XV who thrashed Fiji 73-8 in Liverpool. That was a welcome result after a disappointing Six Nations and the 45-21 defeat to world champions South Africa in their Nations Championship opener.
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