England secured a 31-24 victory over Argentina in Santiago del Estero, concluding their Southern Hemisphere series with a win. The match, part of the Nations Championship, was marked by significant disciplinary issues, including seven yellow cards in total, with England receiving four in the second half.
The game’s conclusion saw a controversial decision by the Television Match Official (TMO) to disallow an Argentina try in the 83rd minute. Referee Angus Gardner had initially awarded the try to Bautista Delguy, which would have set up a difficult conversion for a potential draw. However, TMO Brett Cronan intervened, ruling that Delguy was in touch, despite Gardner’s suggestion of insufficient evidence to overturn his on-field call. This decision ultimately secured England’s win.
Match Overview and Key Moments
The encounter was described as chaotic, featuring eight tries and a mass brawl early in the first minute. England established a 16-point lead by half-time, with tries from Tommy Freeman and two from Ben Earl. Despite this advantage, England’s discipline became a concern, as they were reduced to 13 players twice due to yellow cards.
Argentina, wearing replica 1986 World Cup shirts, managed to score next and capitalize on England’s yellow cards. However, their own disciplinary issues prevented them from fully exploiting their numerical advantage. Marcus Smith scored a try while Argentina’s Joaquin Oviedo was in the sin-bin, and Santiago Carreras also received a yellow card.
An individual try from Immanuel Feyi-Waboso further extended England’s lead. However, subsequent yellow cards for England’s Henry Pollock and Emmanuel Iyogun led to a tense finish. Justo Piccardo’s late try for Argentina, followed by a break, put pressure on the 13-man England side, but a combined effort from Noah Caluori and Henry Slade denied Delguy in the final play.
The match saw several players receiving yellow cards. For England, these included Jack van Poortvliet for a deliberate knock-on, Alex Coles for an illegal infringement at a ruck that resulted in a penalty try for Argentina, Henry Pollock for offside, and Emmanuel Iyogun on his debut. Argentina’s Mateo Carreras was also shown a yellow card for a high tackle.
Discipline and Performance
England’s disciplinary record has been a point of concern, with 14 yellow cards and one red card in their past eight matches. This fixture added to that tally, with four yellow cards in a single game, highlighting an ongoing issue for Steve Borthwick’s side. Despite these challenges, England managed to hold on for the win, demonstrating resilience under pressure.
The victory in Santiago del Estero, following a win against Fiji, places England in third position in the Nations Championship table, with Argentina in fourth. These back-to-back bonus point wins are seen as crucial for Borthwick’s future, especially after a challenging Six Nations campaign. The team will now prepare for November’s Nations Championship fixtures.
Argentina’s decision to wear replica 1986 World Cup shirts, reminiscent of their famous victory over England, added a unique element to the match. Despite the symbolic gesture, England’s Fin Smith played a key role in the first half, setting up Freeman’s early try. Argentina’s Tomás Albornoz was a standout performer in the second half, contributing to their comeback efforts.
The final five minutes of the match alone took 26 minutes to play in real time, contributing to a second half that lasted 69 minutes. This extended period included a lengthy treatment for Benhard Janse van Rensburg, who was removed after a head injury. The match concluded with England’s 31-24 victory.
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Source: bbc.co.uk
As News-GB.org's Sports Reporter, Eleanor Vance reports on tennis, cricket and athletics for readers across the country. She built her name on long-form athlete profiles. She holds a degree in Sport and Media from the University of Bath and completed an NCTJ diploma. Eleanor lives in Bath, where she swims competitively and follows British athletics. “A profile is only as good as the questions behind it.”