England survive chaotic finish to beat Argentina in Santiago del Estero
England claimed a 31-24 Nations Championship victory over Argentina in Santiago del Estero, overcoming four yellow cards and a dramatic TMO intervention in the final minutes to secure a sixth consecutive win on Argentinian soil. The match at Estadio Unico Madre de Ciudades was played amid a hostile atmosphere, with the home side wearing replica shirts inspired by Diego Maradona’s 1986 World Cup kit and fans displaying Falklands-themed banners in the stands.
England struck early through Tommy Freeman, who collected a pinpoint cross-field kick from Fin Smith inside four minutes, before Immanuel Feyi-Waboso’s break set up Ben Earl for a second try. Earl added a simple third from a dominant five-metre scrum as England built a 16-point half-time lead, with Tomas Albornoz’s penalty the only Argentine response in a first half punctuated by early melees and Ollie Chessum’s antagonism at the restart.
The second half exploded into life as Mateo Carreras burrowed over within three minutes, before Jack van Poortvliet and Alex Coles were both sin-binned, the latter’s denial of a try-scoring opportunity resulting in a penalty try that reduced England to 13 men. Joaquin Oviedo’s yellow card for a dangerous clear-out on Guy Pepper briefly shifted momentum, allowing Marcus Smith and a stunning solo finish from Feyi-Waboso to extend the lead, only for Henry Pollock and debutant Emmanuel Iyogun to follow their teammates to the bin.
Justo Piccardo’s 80th-minute score brought Argentina within a converted try, and Bautista Delguy appeared to have salvaged a draw when he crossed four minutes into added time, but a TMO review ruled the winger in touch to spark English relief. Player of the match Feyi-Waboso acknowledged the dramatic finish, describing the atmosphere as amazing while admitting England’s discipline made victory far harder than it needed to be, with centre Benhard Janse van Rensburg forced off injured during the contest.