Argentina’s head coach, Felipe Contepomi, labeled Tom Curry as a “bully” and accused the England flanker of pushing him during a heated confrontation in the tunnel following Sunday’s 27-23 defeat at Allianz Stadium.
The Pumas were outraged by Curry’s tackle on Juan Cruz Mallia in the 75th minute, which led to Mallia exiting the game due to a suspected ACL knee injury, leaving Argentina with 14 players for the remainder of the match.
Although Curry’s challenge resulted in a penalty, it was not reviewed by the television match official. Contepomi vented his frustration at the challenge from the coach’s box, sparking a brawl between the teams that culminated in the confrontation between Contepomi and Curry.
Contepomi remarked, “Curry seems to have a tendency to bully people. He approached me in the tunnel and pushed me. He is 27 and strong, while I am 48.”
He further added, “After causing harm to someone, one should have the humility and respect to acknowledge their mistake. But he acted otherwise. If we condone bullies in this sport, it sets a dangerous precedent.”
In defense of Curry, England’s head coach, Steve Borthwick, praised Curry’s character, emphasizing his respectfulness and team spirit. Borthwick stated that while he was aware of the tunnel incident, he did not witness it firsthand as he was in the changing room at the time.
England secured their 11th consecutive victory by defeating Argentina, concluding a successful month with a clean sweep of wins. Borthwick commended the team’s performance in a hard-fought Test match against a resilient Argentina side and expressed optimism about the team’s ongoing development and potential for the future.