England coach defends players

England rugby coach Joe Lydon defended his team after their laboured 29-5 win over Canada in Edmonton set up a Churchill Cup final against Argentina.

Tries by flanker Pat Sanderson and backs Paul Sackey, Sam Vesty, Tom Voyce and James Simpson-Daniel sealed victory for England, who had lock Louis Deacon and first five-eighth Andy Goode sin-binned in the second half for throwing punches.

Lydon, however, refused to condemn his second-string team, with most of England's top players in the Lions squad in New Zealand.

"I thought our discipline was fantastic," he said. "We were very disciplined. We tried to keep to the game plan. I have to give my players a lot of respect.

"We knew Canada would play a physical game and we had to match them in that."

Lydon admitted the game had been scrappy.

"You have to give credit to the Canadians for playing the style and type of rugby that suited them," he said.

"They spoiled a lot of ball but at times we didn't help ourselves."

Argentina earlier beat the US Eagles 34-30 to reach the final, winger Francisco Leonelli sealing victory for the Pumas with a stoppage-time try.

England play Argentina in the final on Sunday.

- REUTERS