England 27-23 Argentina: Autumn Nations Series rugby union – as it happened
England held on and Rob Kitson was there to see it,Thanks everyone for joining me,As I sign off can I steer you towards Rob’s piece,Thanks to you all for being with us across the autumn,What a feast of rugby it was!Til next time…It’s a shame we won’t get the showdown we all want.
Unbeaten Springboks against unbeaten England.Who are the kings of rugby in 2025?If we were already living in a world where the Nations Championship already existed we’d have our answer.I don’t think that was a particularly brilliant performance from England.But that’s the thing about top teams.Even when they’re not at their best they find a way to win.
We’re a few months out from the Six Nations but they’ll be title contenders for sure,Just a reminder that England have now won 11 in a row,They’ve become a proper team,No doubt about it,Chris Ashton on the BBC has this to say:There were too many changes today, that had too much of an impact, but Max Ojomoh had a great game.
It didn’t function today like in the last few weeks, it almost cost them.Here’s our player of the match, Max Ojomoh:It was class.It was a class build up in the week.I’ve been waiting for this opportunity for so long.It’s not swagger, I just understand what my role is.
The boys gave me a lot of energy in the week.I’m just glad I could bring it.It’s easy with Fordy, Slade on my outside, there’s a plethora of experience around me.Apparently it’s all kicking off in the tunnel.Argentina are not happy.
But it’s all calmed down on the pitch at least.Max Ojomoh deservedly wins player of the match.120+ metres from 10 carries.One try.Two try assists.
Unreal effort.Pollock and Grondona are shoving each other.I think it’s all a response to the Curry hit on Mallia that ended the Argentine fullbacks night.Curry wasn’t carded so Argentina had to win that a the death with 14 men as they’d already made all their subs.Argentina falter at the death! Kudos to England who held on.
A brilliant first half from them was enough for this victory.80+5 min: Carreras kicks to the corner.One last shot.My word.The Argentina fans in the crowd are going nuts.
Five out,BUT THEY’VE FLUFFED THE LINE-OUT! England gather the loose ball and win the match!80+3 min: Into the England 22,They have a penalty advantage,They could kick to the corner if they wanted,10 metres out.
Picacardo makes ground.The move ends but they have the advantage.That was such a brilliant break from Carreras earlier as he skinned Pollock and shot upfield.OK, penalty.10 metres out.
Can they do it?80+2 min: They’ve made 30 metres.But they have a long way to go, still inside their half.But Carreras picks a hole and now they’re inside England’s half! 18 phases.Still about 30 metres to go.They’ve done it! Seconds left on the clock.
Isgro breaks the line and dives over after sustained pressure close to the ruck,When they went wide it worked a treat,Carreras drops the conversion and slots it to speed things up,They’ll have to go from deep to snatch this,Not that it matters much.
But the big fella is off for repeated infringements in the red zone.80 min: Argentina score! Or did they? I don’t think so.Spilled on the line from Oviedo.rom the maul, they kept hammering the line with short carries until the crack emerged and they got there.But Baxter did enough to knock it loose.
They have the advantage, but that’ll be the game,78 min: Argentina hoof this out,Line-out five out,They maul,Will be too little too late but they’ll want a try here.
76 min: Argentina have an advantage inside England’s 22.Matera carries.They go right, then left, then right again.But they’re not going forward.England’s wall holds.
Nothing happening so they’ll have the penalty.But they need to move fast as this is an 11 point game and time is running out.75 min: Argentina get a penalty as Curry drills Mallia far too late.That is a thumping hit but it was late.Mallia got the kick away which means we’ll take the penalty from where it bounced, which is in England’s 22.
That is the end of Mallia’s night as he hobbles off.74 min: England have upped the ante these past 10 minutes.Another monstrous hit on an Argentine ball carrier ends with an England line-out.They win the set-piece and Mitchell hoists a kick and deep kick.Argentina are pinned back towards their 22.
Is that the game? Ford’s swinging right boot adds three more to the lead.71 min: Another penalty for England.Itoje tells him to take aim at the sticks.If he nails this that should be that.70 min: Pollock with a brilliant steal! Isgro runs back a Steward kick but he has no mates in support.
Pollock makes the tackle, gets back to his feet and then nips in for a steal over the ball.Penalty to England and Ford hoofs it long downfield.69 min: Argentina need to score next if they have a hope of winning this.Itoje smokes Carreras, his 20th tackle of the match.Ford takes a high ball and England are starting to re-exert control on things.
England respond! They show bravery to go to the back of the line-out where Pollock gathers,That means England can strike from midfield,Ojomoh makes a mighty carry and as he is tackled he gets an off-load away and Slade just needs to grab it and fall over the line,Ojomoh is having a fantastic game,Ford slots the extra two from right in front.
66 min: Squeaky bum time.Sort of.This is a big 14 minutes coming up.Kicks from both teams before Coles makes ground with a stiff carry from an inside pass from Ford and then England win a penalty on the floor.Ford with the clear-out and then a nudge to the corner.
Cowan-Dickie will throw from five out.64 min: Cowan-Dickie goes short at the line-out and they keep the ball.Seven phases.Ford changes direction.He’s within drop-goal range.
A dozen phases,Into the 22,Ford goes for the drop but drags it! Of all the drops he’s nailed since 2023 that might have been the easiest,And yet he’s missed!62 min: England win the scrum penalty,Pollock celebrates with gusto.
So does Earl.Only counts if they make this count.61 min: The crowd boos as Mitchell’s off-load to Steward is judged to have gone forward.Was tight.Not sure myself
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