{"success":true,"data":{"id":"60fc82ed-e428-4641-9ede-655f2dde4b38","title":"Pumas fans have football-crowd mentality but we can ‘shut them up’ – Guy Pepper","summary":"Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent Notifications can be managed in browser preferences. Not now Yes please US Edition Change Support Now × \"Clear search box\") Custom Search Sort by Relevance Date NewsNews World CupWorld Cup SportsSports CultureCulture LifestyleLifestyle MoneyMon...","content":"## Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent\n\nNotifications can be managed in browser preferences.\n\nNot now Yes please\n\nUS Edition Change\n\nSupport Now\n\n[×](javascript:void(0) \"Clear search box\")\n\nCustom Search\n\nSort by\n\nRelevance\n\nDate\n\n*   News[News](https://www.independent.co.uk/us)\n\n*   World Cup[World Cup](https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/world-cup)\n\n*   Sports[Sports](https://www.independent.co.uk/sport)\n\n*   Culture[Culture](https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment)\n\n*   Lifestyle[Lifestyle](https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style)\n\n*   Money[Money](https://www.independent.co.uk/us/money)\n\n*   Travel[Travel](https://www.independent.co.uk/us/travel)\n\n*   Premium[Premium](https://www.independent.co.uk/independentpremium)\n\nMore\n\nMore\n\n### Thank you for registering\n\nPlease refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged in Please refresh your browser to be logged in\n\n# Pumas fans have football-crowd mentality but we can ‘shut them up’ – Guy Pepper\n\n## England take on Argentina looking to improve of their recent record of one win in six Tests.\n\n[Duncan Bech](https://www.independent.co.uk/author/duncan-bech)Tuesday 14 July 2026 15:15 BST\n\n*   Copy link  \n*   Bookmark  \n\n## Bookmark popover\n\nRemoved from bookmarks\n\nClose popover\n\nopen image in gallery\n\nGuy Pepper says Argentina’s home fans can be silenced (Adam Davy/PA)(PA Wire)\n\n### Your support helps us to tell the story\n\nFrom reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.\n\nAt such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.\n\nThe Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.\n\n**Your support makes all the difference.**\n\n[Argentina](https://www.independent.co.uk/topic/argentina) may feed off the energy of their fans, but Guy Pepper insists their football-style support can be silenced if England seize control in Santiago del Estero on Saturday.\n\nPepper made replacement appearances in La Plata and [San Juan](https://www.independent.co.uk/topic/san-juan) last year that included his Test debut and it was when sat on the bench that he was able to appreciate the passion brought by Pumas supporters.\n\nBut as England posted impressive away wins despite missing their [British and Irish Lions](https://www.independent.co.uk/topic/british-and-irish-lions) stars, the 23-year-old flanker also noticed how quickly their backing could fade.\n\nGuy Pepper is expected to retain his place at openside against Argentina (Adam Davy/PA)(PA Archive)\n\n“It was very much football-crowd type mentality out there, which was cool to experience and different,” Pepper said.\n\n“It was noisy, but you were also able to shut them up by outscoring them. It was a real rollercoaster of emotion.\n\n“Being on the bench for the two games, you could take in the fact that they’re all chanting and jumping around one minute and then you can hear a pin drop the next.”\n\nEngland tours to Argentina have traditionally been held during [Lions](https://www.independent.co.uk/topic/lions) years, enabling emerging players to be tested.\n\nTom Curry and Sam Underhill famously made their debuts on the 2017 expedition to South America, while current starters Pepper and Seb Atkinson followed suit last year, with Alex Coles and Joe Heyes also establishing themselves.\n\nSam Underhill (left) and Tom Curry applaud made their debuts on the 2017 tour of Argentina (Adam Davy/PA)(PA Archive)\n\nFollowing the birth of the Nations Championship and England’s recent record of one win in six Tests, Saturday’s one-off match in the north of the country is not a time to be experimenting.\n\nBut with Pepper, Atkinson, Coles and Heyes all expected to be retained in the starting XV named by head coach [Steve Borthwick](https://www.independent.co.uk/topic/steve-borthwick) on Thursday, the ground work laid last year has proved invaluable.\n\n“On reflection, the 2025 Argentina tour was quite significant for this group, particularly with the Lions guys being away,” Pepper said.\n\n“It was a pretty cool and special moment for us, an important step to breed new young players and allow them to make a name for themselves and keep the jersey. It was a pretty special tour and something that will only make us tighter.\n\n“Since that tour we have really tried to step up the way we attack games, so that we are able to play through teams and also play around them. It’s exiting where we’re going.”\n\nEngland are currently staying in the heart of Buenos Aires and will be watching the football World Cup semi-final against Argentina on Wednesday at their team hotel.\n\nShould Argentina reach Sunday’s final, travel to the airport for the flight home could encounter logistical difficulties due to the millions of supporters who would take to the streets in celebration.\n\n“When they won it in 2022, the whole street outside our hotel was absolutely rammed,” Pepper said. “We might struggle to get on the plane back!”\n\n### More about\n\n### Most popular\n\n### Popular videos\n\n### Bulletin","source_name":"The Independent","source_url":"https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-union/argentina-steve-borthwick-british-and-irish-lions-san-juan-lions-b3014665.html","url":"https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-union/argentina-steve-borthwick-british-and-irish-lions-san-juan-lions-b3014665.html","author":"Duncan Bech","author_name":"Duncan Bech","published_at":"2026-07-14T14:15:35.000Z","publication_date":"2026-07-14T14:15:35.000Z","image_url":"https://static.independent.co.uk/2026/07/14/15/3581936be3836158c93a83d78e212ab6Y29udGVudHNlYXJjaGFwaSwxNzg0MTIzMjgx-2.83366911.jpg","category":"world","topic":"world","tags":[],"political_bias":null,"bias_score":null,"confidence_score":null,"credibility_score":null,"factual_quality":null,"reading_time":5,"word_count":826,"view_count":0,"breaking":false,"breaking_news":false,"ai_analysis":null,"fact_check_status":"unverified","archive_status":"hot"}}