England to tour Argentina

Clive Woodward today confirmed that England will play in Argentina this summer.

England are set to play one Test match against the Pumas, plus a couple of other fixtures. However, no decision has yet been made on whether they will also take on South Africa following the cancellation of their proposed South Sea Islands trip.

England's initial plans had been to tackle Fiji, Samoa and Tonga in June, but those games were ruled out because of a clash of fixtures in both hemispheres.

"We are definitely going to Argentina," said coach Woodward. "It is looking like one Test and some other games there, and I am happy with that."

The RFU is yet to confirm the full itinerary for the tour.

Woodward is likely to take a strong squad, but players who were on Lions duty in Australia last summer are unlikely to be involved. That would mean a welcome break for Jonny Wilkinson, Austin Healey, Richard Hill and Martin Johnson, among others.

England have played Argentina on 10 occasions, winning seven times, but they have been beaten twice in South America, the last occasion being in 1997.

In the meantime, Woodward is concentratingon his team's final Six Nations Championship clash against Italy in Rome on Sunday.

England can still retain their Six Nations crown, but those hopes hinge entirely on Ireland defeating tournament favourites France in Paris 24 hours earlier.

If Ireland win, repeating their Paris victory of two years ago, and England record an anticipated runaway success against Italy, then Woodward's men will take the title on points difference.

Meanwhile, Greg Smith, who has coached Australia and Fiji, looks certain to be the successor to Francois Pienaar at Saracens.

Sarries have failed in their attempts to convince fellow Australians Tim Lane and Matt Williams to take the coaching reins at the Watford-based club.

Smith was the Wallaby coach during the mid-1990s, working closely with Tim Horan, the present stand-in coach at Saracens following the departure of Pienaar after six years in charge.

Smith is likely to be involved in an advisory role until the end of this season while contractual details are sorted out.