Argentina’s head coach, Felipe Contepomi, labeled Tom Curry as a “bully” and alleged that the England flanker pushed him during a heated confrontation in the tunnel following Sunday’s 27-23 defeat at Allianz Stadium.
The Pumas were furious over Curry’s tackle on Juan Cruz Mallia in the 75th minute, which resulted in Mallia leaving the field due to a suspected ACL knee injury, leaving Argentina with 14 players for the remainder of the match.
Despite Curry receiving a penalty for the tackle, it was not reviewed by the television match official. Contepomi intervened to protest the challenge, leading to a post-match scuffle between the teams that escalated to the clash between Contepomi and Curry in the tunnel.
Contepomi criticized Curry’s behavior, stating, “Curry, let me say, it is probably part of his nature to bully people. He came into the tunnel and he gave me a little smack. He is 27, strong. I am 48.” Contepomi further expressed disappointment in Curry’s lack of remorse following the injury caused to their player.
England’s head coach, Steve Borthwick, defended Curry’s character, describing him as a valuable team player with impeccable conduct. Borthwick clarified that he was unaware of the specifics of the tunnel incident as he was in the changing room at the time.
England secured their 11th victory in a row by overcoming a resilient Argentina side, capping off a successful month. Borthwick praised his team’s performance, emphasizing the tough nature of the Test match and the ongoing development of the squad.
Both coaches provided contrasting views on the incident, highlighting the intense competition on the field and the differing perspectives on player conduct during the match.