In a thrilling encounter at Twickenham, England narrowly defended their home turf with a 27-23 victory over Argentina, holding off a spirited second-half comeback from the visitors. But here's where it gets controversial—this game was a true test of resilience, as England had to battle hard to maintain their winning streak, which now stands at 11 consecutive Test wins.
The match kicked off with an exciting debut for Max Ojomoh, whose impressive performance was a highlight of the day. He scored an eye-catching try and set up another with a clever crossfield kick during the first half, helping England establish a 17-3 lead at halftime.
England's dominance could have been even more significant if not for a setback—their hooker Luke Cowan-Dickie had a try disallowed due to a minor knock-on just before the break. Nevertheless, they seemed to be in control until the energetic Pumas began their comeback, especially after their recent impressive win against Scotland where they rallied from 21 points down.
Argentina showed renewed vigor early in the second half, with Justo Piccardo finishing off a break from his team, narrowing the score to 17-10. Their resilience was evident, and six minutes later, Argentina continued pressing, with Tomas Albornoz adding two penalties to bring the score level.
Momentarily, it looked like England might lose their grip—until a powerful run from Alex Coles created an attacking platform, allowing Ojomoh to strike again. His teammate Henry Slade scored a straightforward try under the posts, and George Ford’s successful conversion and penalty stretched England’s lead to 11 points.
But the match was far from over. In the dying moments, Argentina mounted a fierce last-ditch effort. With support from a passionate crowd, they relentlessly attacked, seeking a try to steal victory. A critical line-out within five meters of England’s try line went awry for Argentina, ending their hopes and allowing England to solidify their win with a kick to the stands.
As the final whistle blew, England fans exhaled in relief, knowing their side had just navigated a tense, highly competitive game. The standout star, Max Ojomoh, was awarded Player of the Match. Despite only being in his second England appearance—his first being earlier in the summer—he looked completely at ease, making a significant impact in his midfield debut.
Ojomoh’s contributions were impressive; he scored early after Argentina's mishandling of a high kick, taking advantage of a loose ball to dart in from the same end he scored at during the Premiership final in June. His more remarkable play was providing crucial support for their fly-half, Ford, by switching the point of attack and kicking a perfect cross-field pass for his wing to race in untouched, pushing England ahead 17-0 by the 27th minute.
Until then, Argentina had struggled to threaten England’s line—despite some promising moments such as a powerful carry that was stopped short, a penalty missed by Carreras, and a costly intercept attempt by Matias Moroni. It seemed that the Argentine squad, composed mainly of players embroiled in a lengthy season playing for clubs in England and France, looked physically drained from the grueling schedule.
The visitors’ only points in the first half came from Albornoz’s penalty, and England was on the brink of extending their advantage with a try from Cowan-Dickie, but a marginal knock-on was detected by video review, wiping off the score.
The resurgent Argentine team pushed back early in the second half, with Piccardo finishing a well-started move, making it 17-10. Argentina’s relentless effort continued, with Albornoz adding another penalty—bringing the game to a tense, narrow margin of just one point.
As tension mounted at Twickenham, England’s head coach Steve Borthwick introduced fresh legs with players like Will Stuart, Fin Baxter, Tom Curry, and Henry Pollock in an attempt to hold onto their lead amid mounting pressure. Despite Argentina’s continuous assault and another penalty from Carreras, England managed to stay ahead.
In the 70th minute, a well-executed line-out set-piece saw Pollock claim the ball, and Ojomoh, displaying both skill and composure, waded through a tackle from Carreras and offloaded to Slade, who scored comfortably for England, further reinforcing their lead.
Even though Rodrigo Isgro crossed for Argentina in the final moments, trailing by four points, the visitors' attempt to snatch victory was thwarted when their attack was disrupted just outside England’s try line—culminating in a final line-out error that sealed the outcome.
This victory underscores England’s resilience—they’ve often been tested in tight finishes throughout 2024, yet they consistently manage to emerge victorious at the last moment. The team’s ability to withstand pressure and close out games has become a defining trait.
Starting for England were Steward, Feyi-Waboso, Slade, Ojomoh, Daly, Ford, Spencer, Genge, Cowan-Dickie, Opoku-Fordjour, Itoje (captain), Coles, Pepper, Underhill, and Earl. Substitutes included Dan, Baxter, Stuart, Ewels, Tom Curry, Pollock, Mitchell, and M. Smith.
For Argentina, the lineup was Mallia (vice-captain), Isgro, Moroni, Piccardo, Delguy, Albornoz, Benitez Cruz, Gallo, Montoya (captain), Delgado, Petti, Rubiolo, Gonzalez, Kremer, and S. Grondona, with substitutes like Ruiz, Wenger, Rapetti, Molina, Matera (vice-captain), Oviedo, Moyano, and S. Carreras.
So, what do you think—was England’s narrow escape just luck, or does this game reveal their real strength in crunch time? And critics might ask: Is consistency over long seasons truly sustainable, especially for Argentine players juggling club and country commitments? Share your thoughts below and join the debate!
