Summer slump was Al part of grand plan

PLOY TRAPPED PUMAS

- Alex Spink

ENGLAND have revealed that looking "terrible" in their World Cup warm-up matches was part of a masterplan to shock Argentina.

Five defeats in six games before the tournament meant Steve Borthwick's team were mocked and written off ahead of their Pool C opener in Marseille.

Not only did they beat the Pumas easily, they did so playing all but the first three minutes with 14 players, due to Tom Curry's red card.

Aled Walters, the Welshman hired in June as England's head of strength and conditioning, said: "It was actually quite amusing, seeing... [the reaction to England's warm-up performances].

"People were thinking, "There's a World Cup round the corner and they look terrible.