England’s 13 men thwarted an Argentina comeback in a controversial finale to secure a 31-24 victory in the Nations Championship. The visitors ran in five tries, but were reduced to 13 and briefly 12 men in the second half after four yellow cards. Argentina were denied a late score by the TMO, sparking debate.
First-Half Dominance
England started strongly, with two tries inside the first 23 minutes. Fin Smith’s cross-kick set up Tommy Freeman for the first score. Immanuel Feyi-Waboso then powered through midfield, offloading to Ben Earl for the second try. Earl added a third from a dominant scrum, giving England a 19-3 halftime lead.
Second-Half Chaos
Argentina rallied after halftime, with Mateo Carreras scoring within four minutes of the restart. England’s discipline crumbled as Jack van Poortvliet, Alex Coles, Henry Pollock, and debutant Manny Iyogun were yellow-carded. Argentina capitalized with a penalty try, cutting the deficit to 19-17.
Key Tries and Slade’s Tackle
Marcus Smith scored in the corner after a long pass from Van Poortvliet, and Feyi-Waboso added a brilliant try, cutting an angle to make it 31-17. Argentina’s Justo Piccardo scored in the 79th minute, but Henry Slade’s last-gasp tackle on Bautista Delguy, upheld by the TMO, preserved the win.
Impact and Quotes
The win moves England to third in the tournament standings. Coach Steve Borthwick praised his team: “I’m delighted for the players, they showed incredible spirit. Henry Slade’s effort there was incredible. People question them a lot but the togetherness and connection of the players was exceptional.” Argentina coach Felipe Contepomi cut short his press conference, citing a lack of respect from England’s celebratory music.
