England narrowly held on to defeat Argentina 31-24 in a pulsating Nations Championship rugby clash on Saturday night. Bautista Delguy saw a last-gasp try for the Pumas disallowed in controversial scenes at the Estadio Unico Madre de Ciudades in Santiago del Estero, denying them the opportunity to snatch a dramatic draw to round off a remarkable second half. The Clermont wing was adjudged by TMO Brett Cronan to have grounded the ball on the intersection of the sideline and the try line, following a lengthy review in which there was initial disagreement with referee Angus Gardner.
Argentina felt they should have been awarded a penalty try for high tackles on Delguy by Noah Caluori and Henry Slade, with England escaping with a narrow victory to restore some pride in this fierce rivalry after Wednesday’s heartbreaking late semi-final loss to Argentina in the football World Cup. Steve Borthwick’s side were initially in cruise control against the below-par hosts - who goaded their opponents with shirts inspired by the football World Cup winners of 1986 - thanks to a first-half brace from Ben Earl and Tommy Freeman’s early score, only to suffer more costly ill-discipline as Jack van Poortvliet, Alex Coles, Henry Pollock and debutant Emmanuel Iyogun were all yellow-carded in the second half.
Mateo Carreras and an Argentine penalty try had England in real trouble amid that flurry of cautions, though they hit back through Marcus Smith and the Pumas then received two of their three yellows as momentum continued to shift wildly back and forth throughout a thrilling second period that took 63 minutes to complete. Immanuel Feyi-Waboso’s superb try looked to have put the game beyond Argentina, only for Justo Piccardo to set up a grandstand finish before Benhard Janse van Rensburg was stretchered off and England’s 13 men clung on amid the late drama surrounding Delguy.
Argentina vs England highlights
NO TRY! Controversy as last-gasp Delguy score disallowed TRY! Piccardo effort sets up grandstand finish TRY! Feyi-Waboso brilliantly punishes awful lineout TRY! Marcus Smith scores as flurry of yellows continues PENALTY TRY! Coles shown yellow to leave England with 13 men Van Poortvliet sin-binned for deliberate knock-on TRY! Mateo Carreras strikes early in second half TRY! Earl gets his second as England dominate TRY! Earl scores before Mateo Carreras shown yellow TRY! Freeman gives England early leadLive updates
Borthwick hits out at 'negativity' after discipline questions
Just like pre-match though, Steve Borthwick has again been very punchy with the media after England’s dramatic victory.
He bristled at questions over his team’s repeated ill-discipline after they received four yellow cards in the second half to Jack van Poortvliet, Alex Coles, Henry Pollock and Emmanuel Iyogun.
They played nine minutes with 13 men and have now received 14 yellows and one red in their last eight Tests.
“I don’t think now is the time to be digging into that,” Borthwick said.
“This team has done really, really well.
“It was a tough Test match, a fantastic Test match, we scored some wonderful tries and as ever you guys concentrate on the negativity.
“You’re like the negativity committee so it’s lovely coming and talking to you again.”
AFP/GettySteve Borthwick: England showed incredible spirit
Felipe Contepomi’s counterpart Steve Borthwick was full of praise for England’s resolve and spirit tonight.
He was particularly thrilled with what turned out to be a game-saving intervention from Henry Slade on Bautista Delguy.
“I’m delighted for the players. They showed incredible spirit, led brilliantly by Jamie George,” Borthwick said.
“Matches between England and Argentina, whatever the sport, seem to end up being very tight late on and full of drama.
“It’s almost unfair to pull out one example but Henry Slade’s tackle at the end was incredible.
“It shows the fight that’s in this group of players, as well as their togetherness and connection.
“Right now these players deserve a fantastic holiday, a good night out tonight (Saturday) and a good rest.
“They’ve worked hard and it’s been a season that’s been going a while.
“We all know about the number of minutes the English players play and these guys have stuck it right to the very end.”
AFP/GettyFelipe Contepomi accuses England of 'lack of respect'
The aftermath of tonight’s chaotic game has been just as dramatic as the action on the field.
Argentina head coach Felipe Contepomi stormed out of his post-match press conference at the Estadio Unico Madre de Ciudades after accusing England of showing a “lack of respect” as they celebrated their nail-biting victory with music and cheering in the dressing room next door.
Contepomi initially asked an England representative to make the noise stop before then walking out.
AFP/GettyEngland edge Argentina after chaotic second half
I don’t know how to even begin to sum up a frankly ridiculous and marathon second half of rugby that lasted for 63 minutes.
Complete and utter chaos is the only way I can describe it.
England were absolutely coasting at half-time, looked in major trouble when down to 13 men shortly afterwards, came roaring back with their own numerical advantage and then needed a hugely contentious last-gasp decision to potentially prevent an infuriating draw.
Four yellow cards for England, all in that second half. Their repeated ill-discipline is a real cause for concern.
Two cautions for Argentina there too, plus one in the first period. Seven yellows overall to go along with eight tries.
I think I need a lie-down.
AFP/GettyArgentina 24-31 England
Full-time
Argentina 24-31 England
Referee Angus Gardner gave the try on the field and felt that was clearly grounded, but TMO Brett Cronan insists that the ball was grounded on the intersection of the sideline and try line - meaning it should be disallowed.
Gardner accepts his ruling and the final whistle sounds!
Wow. Massive last-gasp controversy in a truly remarkable game.
Argentina are absolutely seething.
Argentina 24-31 England
This is taking an absolute age to sort out and the TMO and referee are now disagreeing as to whether Delguy grounded the ball inside the line or not!
Utterly remarkable.
Argentina feel that tackle from Caluori was high as well - and they have a point.
Slade’s intervention may well have saved England here, but that looked a bit high too.
Argentina want a penalty try.
Argentina 24-31 England
This is absolutely astonishing drama as Delguy shrugs off Marcus Smith’s attempted tackle and appears to just about ground the ball in the right corner despite the best efforts of Caluori - who replaced Feyi-Waboso a few moments ago - and Slade.
Was he in touch?!
A massive call coming up here.
The on-field decision is try as we go to the TMO.
If the decision stands, Albornoz has a very tough conversion to snatch a last-gasp draw.
TRY! Argentina 24-31 England | Justo Piccardo 80'
80 mins: Hang on just a moment!
Montpellier centre Piccardo is in for Argentina, who reduce England’s lead to just seven points with 30 seconds still to go after a quick drop-goal conversion from Albornoz.
There will be a restart and England are now playing with 13 men once again.
Is there another last-gasp twist to come here?!
Argentina 17-31 England
Best wishes to Janse van Rensburg as he’s stretchered away.
Fingers crossed that’s not as bad as it looks.
We will now play out the final 97 seconds of this remarkable second half.
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