EnglAnd shoot down the PumAs
ENGLAND 27 ARGENTINA 14
ENGLAND overcame Elliot Daly’s fifth- minute red card to stage a remarkable 27-14 victory over Argentina at Twickenham that extends their winning run to 13 Tests.
A display of startling resolve and stamina enabled Eddie Jones’ men to build a 16-0 lead, survive a Pumas fightback, and then finish the more dangerous team with Jonny May racing over to seal the result.
Victory was delivered the hard way after Daly became the fifth England player to be sent off and the first since Lewis Moody in 2005 when he clattered into Leonardo Senatore while the No.8 was in the process of catching the ball.
The incident brought an end to the concussed Senatore’s afternoon and Daly’s exit left England to play the remaining 75 minutes with 14 men.
England had made a strong start with Billy and Mako Vunipola prominent but Daly’s dismissal placed an entirely new perspective on the penultimate match of the autumn series at Twickenham.
Argentina’s efforts to build momentum were foiled by referee Pascal Gauzere’s whistle, enabling Owen Farrell to kick a second penalty.
Another collision that saw wing Juan Pablo Estelles clatter into May while his opposite number was in the air was punished only with a penalty.
Again Farrell was on target and, despite their extra man, Argentina trailed 9- 0 with 15 minutes of the first half remaining and were busy shooting themselves in the foot at every available opportunity.
As if conceding eight penalties at this early stage was not enough, they then turned the ball over close to their line as the relentless Chris Robshaw chased down Santiago Cordero and the speed of Billy Vunipola’s reaction to grab the loose ball was stunning.
On the left was a clear overlap but as Robshaw fed Tom Wood for a certain score, wing Matias Orlando deliberately knocked on
to concede a penalty try, resulting in a yellow card for the offending Puma.
Billy Vunipola’s exit on the motorised cart due to a knee injury was a terrible loss for the Grand Slam champions and there followed a sequence of seven scrums in which they were repeatedly pulverised under the posts.
Eventually Gauzere’s patience snapped and Dan Cole was sent to the sin- bin, reducing England to 13 men and enabling Argentina to score for the first time when replacement back row Facundo Isa barrelled over.
The second half had barely started when England’s line cracked for a second time, a missed tackle from Ben Youngs enabling Estelles to break free down the left and, following some beautiful link play, Cordero crossed.
Farrell landed his fifth penalty of the afternoon and when a mighty shove at a scrum sent Argentina hurtling backwards, the Saracens playmaker was on target once more.
Youngs chipped ahead, Jonathan Joseph gathered and George Ford came racing through in support as England bristled with intent and, although they failed to score, they were at least able to take heart from a yellow card shown to Pablo Matera for collapsing a maul.
The result was sealed in the 68th minute when May sprinted over after being released by Tom Wood, Ford and Joseph as Jones celebrated the 12th triumph of his tenure.
There was still time for a second red card, Argentina replacement prop Enrique Pieretto getting his marching orders in the closing minutes for a stamp on Joe Marler.