Some wins count double. In Santiago del Estero, in round three of the Nations Championship, England won 31-24 away to Argentina, but they went through everything: a flying start, a rash of cards, a finish with thirteen men and a conclusion decided by the TMO that set the Argentine camp alight. The story of a match that will be remembered.

A one-sided first half

England struck straight away. As early as the 3rd minute, wing Tommy Freeman finished off a first attack to launch the evening perfectly. Ben Earl, everywhere, then helped himself to a brace (23rd, 32nd), each converted by Fin Smith. By the half-hour, England led 19-3, with only a Tomás Albornoz penalty keeping a nervous Pumas side on the scoreboard. Earl’s first try also coincided with an Argentine yellow card, for Mateo Carreras.

The Pumas wake up

But Argentina had a response. Just before the break, Mateo Carreras made amends by scoring the try that woke them up (42nd), converted by Albornoz (19-10). After the interval, another converted try brought Los Pumas back to within two points (19-17, 54th). Santiago del Estero was alight, and the momentum had clearly shifted.

England’s disciplinary implosion

That was when England came close to throwing it all away. Marcus Smith did give them some breathing room (61st, 26-17) and Immanuel Feyi-Waboso, one of the architects of the win, went over for the breakaway try (68th, 31-17). But England then descended into indiscipline: Jack van Poortvliet (50th), Alex Coles (54th), Henry Pollock (72nd) and Emmanuel Iyogun (76th) all took a seat in the bin. The last two in quick succession, leaving England to finish the match with thirteen men.

TMO, hooter and Argentine fury

Thirteen against fifteen in the closing stages, England gave everything in defence. Justo Piccardo set up one last twist (79th, 31-24), but a final Argentine try, disallowed by the TMO in stoppage time, brought the match to a close. A decision felt as an injustice in the Argentine camp: head coach Felipe Contepomi walked out of his press conference denouncing a lack of respect from the opposition, while supporters demanded a replay.

What it changes

Beyond the row, England leave Argentina with a win full of character that revives them in the northern conference, where France have taken the lead. Argentina have a cruel evening to digest: three tries scored, a match taken to the wire, and nothing to show for it in the southern conference table.