England Triumphs in Chaotic Encounter
England emerged victorious against Argentina in a Nations Championship match held in Santiago del Estero. The game was marked by a controversial late decision by the Television Match Official (TMO) that disallowed a last-gasp try for Argentina, securing a 31-24 win for England. The match saw a total of seven yellow cards issued, highlighting the intense and at times chaotic nature of the contest.
The fixture was a heated renewal of a rivalry, with Argentina having previously expressed frustration during a November encounter at Twickenham. England, under Steve Borthwick, had already secured two wins in South America last summer against Felipe Contepomi’s team, and this victory further eased pressure on the coach following a challenging Six Nations performance.
Prior to the rugby match, the two nations had met on the football pitch earlier in the week, where Argentina were the victors, booking their place in the World Cup final. England’s rugby squad in Buenos Aires had to change hotels to avoid potential celebrations following their football team’s semi-final defeat in Atlanta.
Key Moments and Player Performances
England established a significant lead in the first half, with Tommy Freeman scoring a try and Ben Earl adding two more, contributing to a 16-point advantage at half-time. Fin Smith’s cross-field kick set up Freeman’s try, demonstrating effective attacking play. However, Argentina responded, capitalizing on two yellow cards issued to England players.
Marcus Smith scored a try while Argentina’s Joaquin Oviedo was in the sin-bin, and Santiago Carreras also spent time on the sidelines. Immanuel Feyi-Waboso delivered a notable individual try, which temporarily quieted the home crowd. Earlier in the game, Feyi-Waboso showcased both his speed and strength, evading multiple tacklers to avert danger for England. He also made a vital defensive tackle to prevent a knock-on from Marcos Kremer, which could have led to a scoring opportunity for Argentina.
Despite England replacements Henry Pollock and Emmanuel Iyogun receiving yellow cards, leading to a nervy finish with 13 men, England managed to hold on. Justo Piccardo’s late try for Argentina and a subsequent break created a tense situation, but a combined effort from Noah Caluori and Henry Slade ultimately secured the win for England. Slade’s covering tackle on Bautista Delguy was a decisive moment in the match, with Slade also expertly covering the 13 channel earlier in the game.
Controversial Ending and Aftermath
The match concluded with high drama as Argentina’s Bautista Delguy scored in the corner with the final play. Referee Angus Gardner initially awarded the try, but the TMO, Brett Cronan, intervened, ruling that Delguy was in touch. Despite Gardner’s repeated suggestions that there was insufficient clear evidence to overturn his on-field decision, the try was ultimately disallowed. This decision left Argentina players frustrated, with Gardner surrounded by them at full-time.
Argentina played in striped jerseys reminiscent of their football team’s 1986 World Cup kit, a choice that added an extra layer of symbolism to the encounter. The win against Argentina, following a victory over Fiji in Liverpool, has positioned England well for their upcoming Nations Championship games in November.
The match saw early infringements, with George Martin deemed to have collapsed a maul, leading to a warning for Jamie George from referee Angus Gardner. Additionally, an offside penalty against Guy Pepper allowed Argentina to play with advantage early in the game.
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Source: independent.co.uk
Freya Donnelly is the Sports Reporter at News-UK, covering tennis, cricket and athletics with seven years of reporting experience. She reported on Team GB through an Olympic cycle. She holds a degree in Sport and Media from the University of Brighton and completed an NCTJ diploma. Based in Brighton, she plays club cricket in the summer. “Listening is the most underrated skill in sports reporting.”
