England secured a victory against Argentina in the Nations Championship, prevailing in a match that saw a late try for the hosts disallowed. The game in Santiago del Estero concluded with a controversial decision by the television match official (TMO) in the final moments.
With England holding a lead, Argentina wing Bautista Delguy scored in the corner during the last play. Referee Angus Gardner initially awarded the try, but TMO Brett Cronan intervened, indicating that Delguy was in touch. Despite Gardner’s repeated suggestions that there was no clear evidence to overturn his original on-field call, the try was eventually chalked off. Henry Slade’s tackle on Delguy was a decisive factor in the play.
Match Overview and Key Moments
The match was marked by numerous disciplinary actions, with a combined total of seven yellow cards issued. England received four of these in the second half, leading to them playing with players reduced in number. Despite these challenges, Steve Borthwick’s side appeared set for consecutive Nations Championship wins after early scores.
Tommy Freeman scored a try, followed by two from Ben Earl, contributing to England’s lead at half-time. The Pumas, who wore replica 1986 World Cup football kits for the game, then scored. They capitalized on two England yellow cards, though their own disciplinary issues prevented them from further punishing the visitors.
Marcus Smith’s try occurred while Argentina’s Joaquin Oviedo was in the sin-bin. Santiago Carreras also spent time off the field for 10 minutes. An individual try from Immanuel Feyi-Waboso further extended England’s advantage. However, replacements Henry Pollock and Emmanuel Iyogun were subsequently sent to the sin-bin for England, setting up a tense finish.
Justo Piccardo’s late try for Argentina and their subsequent attack put the 13-man England team under pressure. A combined effort from a player and Slade was just enough to deny Delguy in the final play.
The Pumas made a slow start to the match, only becoming more active after trailing at half-time. England, however, will be concerned by the number of yellow cards received, which adds to their tally in recent Tests. Jack van Poortvliet, Alex Coles, Henry Pollock, and Manny Iyogun were all temporarily removed from the field for England. Argentina also had three players sent to the sin-bin.
Disciplinary Challenges and Coach’s Perspective
Discipline has been a point of concern for England, with a number of yellow cards shown in their recent matches. This summer’s fixtures were seen as important for Borthwick’s future, particularly after a challenging Six Nations performance.
The decision to wear replica 1986 World Cup shirts, reminiscent of a significant victory for Argentina’s football team against England, added a symbolic element to the rugby encounter. This tactic did not disrupt England’s early play, as Fin Smith’s cross-field kick led to Freeman’s try. However, a penalty was awarded to the Pumas from the restart after Ollie Chessum was penalized for his involvement in a scuffle.
Feyi-Waboso’s attacking prowess was evident, as he created opportunities and set up Earl’s try. Mateo Carreras received a yellow card for a high tackle on Freeman, further strengthening England’s position. A dominant scrum also allowed Earl to score again.
The atmosphere in the stadium shifted at half-time, with local dancers performing on the pitch. This seemed to reinvigorate the Pumas, who scored within minutes of the restart through Carreras. England then faced further challenges as both their half-backs were temporarily unavailable. Fin Smith left for a head injury assessment, and Van Poortvliet received a yellow card for a deliberate knock-on. Alex Coles also received a yellow card and conceded a penalty try for an infringement at a ruck.
Despite the card drama, Marcus Smith scored in the corner, and Feyi-Waboso added another try. Slade’s crucial tackle and Gardner’s eventual decision to overrule his initial on-field view were key to the outcome. Argentina’s head coach, Felipe Contepomi, expressed his dissatisfaction with the celebratory music from England’s dressing room, describing it as a “lack of respect.”
The outcome of the match moves England up in the tournament standings and offers some relief after a demanding period of travel and fixtures. The team had experienced a defeat in Johannesburg and a significant win against Fiji in Liverpool prior to this match.
The match officials included referee Angus Gardner from Australia, assistant referees Nika Amashukeli from Georgia and Paul Williams from New Zealand, and TMO Brett Cronan from Australia.
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Source: bbc.co.uk
