England's autumn rugby campaign concluded in dramatic and controversial fashion at Twickenham, as a narrow 27-23 victory over Argentina was completely overshadowed by a fiery post-match tunnel brawl and serious allegations levelled against flanker Tom Curry.
Victory and Controversy Collide at Twickenham
Steve Borthwick's side managed to secure a hard-fought win against the Pumas, extending their impressive winning streak to 11 consecutive matches. This result also sealed their first November clean sweep since 2017, a significant milestone for the team. However, any celebrations were cut short by the explosive incidents that unfolded after the final whistle.
The controversy stemmed from a late tackle by Curry on Argentine player Juan Cruz Mallia. The Pumas viewed the challenge as 'reckless', and it forced Mallia from the pitch with a suspected serious knee injury. This left Argentina to play the final four minutes with only 14 men, though they mounted a formidable comeback that nearly snatched victory at the death.
Explosive Allegations in the Tunnel
The real drama ignited in the Twickenham tunnel following the match. Argentina coach Felipe Contepomi launched a stunning verbal attack on Curry, accusing him of bullying behaviour.
'It is probably part of his nature to bully people,' Contepomi stated. He alleged that Curry confronted him, giving him a push on the chest and telling him to 'f*** off'.
'I’m not happy with the situation,' Contepomi said. 'After breaking someone’s knee, you need to be humble enough to say sorry, you did something wrong. But he went the opposite way.' Contepomi explained that the flashpoint occurred when Curry approached to greet another coach, and he himself intervened due to his anger over the tackle on Mallia.
Fallout and Defences
The immediate consequence is that Tom Curry could yet face a ban for his part in the post-match scuffle, adding a potential suspension to the controversy.
In stark contrast to the Argentine accusations, England head coach Steve Borthwick moved swiftly to defend his player's character. 'Clearly I’m aware there was an incident,' Borthwick commented. 'I didn’t see it. I was in the changing room at the time. Anybody in this room who has had any contact with Tom Curry knows that as a character of a man. His character is impeccable.'
While centre Max Ojomoh was highlighted as England's star performer on the pitch, the post-match narrative was firmly captured by the tunnel altercation, leaving a cloud over an otherwise successful autumn series for the English side.
