Eddie’s young cubs put bite on Pumas
DENNY Solomona scored a sensational solo try to land England a stunning 38-34 first Test victory over Argentina in the blazing sun of San Juan yesterday.
George Ford gave an extraordinary performance at fly-half kicking four penalties, scoring a try and converting three tries.
Ford said: “It’s nice to start the tour with a win. We couldn’t quite click in the second half but we got lucky with that try from Denny – what a finish.
“It will be harder next week and we want to put in a better performance.”
Rugby Paper columnist Jerry Guscott, studio analyst for BBC, said: “I thought England were going to wilt, but they got better as the game went on.
“When you think how inexperienced they are, it is a sensational result. Eddie Jones has injected a winning attitude into this squad.”
A BEST-EVER performance from George Ford in an England shirt and a sensational last minute try by debutant Denny Solomona clinched an extraordinary win against the odds for England against a full strength Pumas team.
Solomona struck brilliantly from 50 yards out showing his trademark strength and speed to bring the curtain down on a match you didn’t want to end and tee up what should be a highly contested second Test next week
With 30 players unavailable through Lions commitments and injury this tour has always been about experimentation as well as winning for Eddie Jones and the England coach had no hesitation giving four players their debut.
That included 18-yearold Sale flanker Tom Curry who became the youngest player to start an England international since Quins fly-half Colin Laird in 1928. The youngster was quite outstanding and, whisper it quietly, England might have unearthed a genuine seven.
There was inexperience elsewhere along with players slightly longer in the tooth but that was the challenge Jones and his side happily undertook.
Playing conditions were perfect in San Juan but England made a cagey start with the Pumas on the front foot. The Jaguares might be struggling in Super Rugby this season but they are still packed with quality players, the rump of the team that stormed into the World Cup quarter-final less than two years ago.
Back in national colours they looked more like themselves and scored a cracking early try from debutant wing Emiliano Boffelli which had its origins in well-won line-out possession on the 22. Instead having thrown deep, they moved it to the blind where Sanchez chipped through perfectly for Boffelli to score.
The Pumas continued to pour forward and looked good for a second try but gradually England started to poach some possession and territory and George Ford took full advantage to kick two invaluable penalties for England to get a foothold in the game.
England were beginning to crank it up though and on the half hour scored a try that will have had Eddie Jones purring. The Pumas were rucking dangerously deep in the England half when Ellis Genge managed to get his hands on the ball and broke out dynamically.
Harry Williams moved the ball on and Alex Lozowski showed real gas to break deep into Pumas territory before the supporting Jonny May ran into traffic.
England stayed calm though and recycled the ball quickly for Ford to throw a long pass to Marland Yarde on the right wing and the Quins man needed no second invitation to sprint home into the corner. Ford, kicking well, added the extras.
That try stung the Pumas back into action and their reply was rapid with a try from their next serious attack with huge lock Tomás Lavanini getting into a perfect low position and driving hard to eventually force his way over the line despite the fact England seemed at one stage to have stopped him.
Sanchez converted in front of the posts, and going into added time, England did show their experience a little when they coughed up a careless penalty which Sanchez stroked home to see the Pumas go down the tunnel 17-13 up.
England faced an uphill task after the break but made a good start with a third Ford penalty and surging attack which was only stopped when Hartley was buried with a crunching tackle.
No matter, England continued to press and after good approach work from the backrow Henry Slade produced one of those moments of virtuosity that punctuate his game. The Exeter man made as if to pass on the inside but accelerating into space and kicked expertly into the corner for May and Brown to decide who should complete the touchdown. May won that debate and Ford converted magnificently from the touchline.
Argentina suddenly found another gear, though, with first De la Fuente scoring under the posts after replacement Denny Solomona had missed a tackle in midfield to allow Landajo to run free and then they produced a try straight from the Barbarian playbook, running deep from their own 22 with ten or eleven pairs of hands before Tucelet roared home for another converted try. Suddenly England were trailing 31-23.
Ford, though, continued to have a stormer and after nailing a 50m penalty he combined brilliantly with Piers Francis in a 50 metre break out down the right flank to score a stunning breakout try to level the scores with 15 minutes left. Where would it all end?
A late dropped goal from Hernandez when the Pumas were playing advantage – should he have tried for the try – seemed to settle the issue but Solomona struck from 50 yards out for a brilliant try to atone from a couple of defensive errors when he first came on. An incredible match.