Argentina 24-31 England: Late TMO call decides game
Nations Championship – third round
Argentina (3) 24
Essays: Carreras, penalty try, Piccardo Cons: Albornoz 2 Fountain pen: Albornosis
England (19) 31
Essays: Freeman, Earl 2, M Smith, Feyi-Waboso Cons: F Smith 3
England held on to beat Argentina in a chaotic match in the Nations Championship after the home side’s last-gasp try was controversially disallowed in Santiago del Estero.
With 13-man England leading 31-24, Argentina winger Bautista Delguy scored from a corner in the final game, resulting in a difficult conversion that secured the draw.
Referee Angus Gardner had awarded the try on the field, but television match official Brett Cronan insisted Delguy had made contact.
Although Gardner repeatedly argued that there was no clear evidence to overturn his initial call on the field, that attempt was eventually abandoned.
Henry Slade’s tackle on Delguy proved to be a decisive moment as Gardner was surrounded at full-time by frustrated Argentinian players.
A total of seven yellow cards were shown in an exciting and action-packed match.
Steve Borthwick’s side looked set for back-to-back Nations Championship wins after Tommy Freeman’s try and two scores from Ben Earl gave them a 16-point lead at half-time.
The Pumas, who wore replicas of the football team’s 1986 World Cup jersey in the match, took advantage of England’s two yellow cards to score the next goal, but their own poor discipline prevented them from giving the away team any further penalties.
Marcus Smith’s corner try sent number eight Joaquin Oviedo into the sin bin, while Santiago Carreras remained on the sidelines with his teammate for 10 minutes.
Then Immanuel Feyi-Waboso’s individual try silenced the passionate home crowd.
However, England’s replacements Henry Pollock and Emmanuel Iyogun would be sent to the sin bin, resulting in a frustrating result.
Justo Piccardo’s late try and Argentina’s subsequent break saw 13-man England scramble, but a combination from Noah Caluori and Slade was enough to take the full-time whistle.
Having earned the support of the Rugby Football Union after just one win in this year’s Six Nations – England’s worst performance since the tournament was expanded from the Five Nations in 2000 – this summer’s fixtures were crucial for Borthwick’s future.
A tough defeat against world champions South Africa at Ellis Park was expected, but victories against Fiji and Argentina set England up well for their Nations Championship matches in November.
