The Vault: England v Argentina
As England prepare to face Argentina on Saturday, we take a look back at previous clashes.
2006: ENG 18 - 25 ARG
Charlie Hodgson surpassed the 250 Test point mark opening England’s account with a successful penalty inside the opening minutes.
Filipe Contempomi answered with one of his own before a solo Paul Sackey score put the hosts in front on the 30-minute mark. Receiving the ball in the midfield, Sackey sliced through the Argentine defence from 40 metres out for his first Test try.
Federico Todeschini took over the kicking duties for Los Pumas and two penalties before the break reduced the deficit to a solitary point. And 16 second half points from Todeschini rendered Toby Flood’s penalty and Ian Balshaw’s try consolation scores, as England suffered their seventh consecutive Test defeat.
2009: ENG 37 - 15 ARG
England beat Argentina 37-15 in their only 'home' meet with Los Pumas outside of Twickenham, at Old Trafford.
A Juan Martin Hernandez drop goal gave Argentina an ideal start, but a brace of drop goals and penalties from Andy Goode, as well as a Matt Banahan try gave them a 19-9 lead.
Hernandez continued to score points when given the opportunity, but two second half Delon Armitage tries gave England the ascendancy and eventual win.
2011: ENG 13 - 9 ARG
England battled to a 13-9 win over Los Pumas in their 2011 Rugby World Cup opener in Dunedin.
Argentine pressure from kick-off forced an offside six minutes into the match, and Felipe Contepomi was on hand to nudge his team into an early lead. But Jonny Wilkinson answered four minutes later with a penalty of his own.
Martín Rodríguez Gurruchage penalties either side of half-time gave Argentina a slender lead with 13 minutes remaining in the Test before a darting run from the base of a ruck by replacement Ben Youngs brought life into England.
His try and the successful Wilkinson conversion handed England a one point lead, and another three points from the boot of the fly-half got Martin Johnson’s men the win.
Did you know? In addition to their 2011 meet, England and Argentina squared off in the 1995 Rugby World Cup, in a game England took 24-18 at Kings Park Stadium, Durban.
2017: ARG 34 - 38 ENG
Argentina struck first through Emiliano Boffelli, but two England penalties and a Marland Yarde try on the 30 minute mark gave England the lead.
It was taken back just before half-time though, as Tomas Lavanini powered over from close range to make it 17-13 to the hosts at the break in the Estadio Bicentenario.
A sublime piece of individual skill form Henry Slade, earning his sixth cap, was the catalyst behind England’s second score. Taking the ball to the line he dummied his way through the defence, before threading a well-weighted kick into the path of the onrushing Jonny May who duly touched down.
Jeronimo de la Fuente and Joaquin Tuculet tries were answered by a length-of-the-field George Ford effort, having combined with Piers Francis, which cut the deficit to three points. And England looked beat, but a final play of the game try courtesy of Denny Solomona on debut, gave England victory in San Juan.
