Argentina 24 31 England: Pumas Denied Last-Gasp Try in Nations Championship Thriller
Traveloasisspot.com – The final scoreline of Argentina 24 31 England tells only part of the story in a Nations Championship encounter that kept fans on edge until the dying moments. England survived a tense period of extra time to secure victory, with Immanuel Feyi-Waboso’s exceptional finish proving to be the decisive moment in what was a turbulent contest in Santiago del Estero.
Just three days after their football team’s heartbreaking 2-1 semi-final exit against Argentina at the World Cup, Steve Borthwick’s squad navigated through their typical disciplinary struggles. The team accumulated fourteen yellow cards and one red card across eight fixtures in 2026, highlighting ongoing concerns that coaches must address.
Discipline Tests England’s Resolve
Yellow cards issued to Jack van Poortvliet, Alex Coles, Henry Pollock, and Emmanuel Iyogun meant England were compelled to compete for nine minutes with only thirteen players on the pitch. Despite these setbacks, they fought their way to a consecutive win against their South American rivals.
The team’s resilience was tested further when Mateo Carreras received a yellow card for a dangerous tackle on Tommy Freeman. Argentina’s players also reacted strongly to Jamie George’s celebrations following Ben Earl’s touchdown, which came after a scrum that drove forward powerfully.
Feyi-Waboso Shines in Decisive Moment
It was Feyi-Waboso’s explosive solo effort in the sixty-ninth minute that ultimately sealed England’s victory. The Exeter wing proved to be the most threatening player throughout the encounter, with his relentless pursuit of loose balls consistently rewarded.
When Joe Heyes won a crucial turnover, Feyi-Waboso struck again, with Earl available to complete England’s second try. Marcus Smith later crossed in the right corner before Feyi-Waboso concluded his performance in style, with the Northampton flanker departing the field shortly after.
Agonizing Wait for Final Verdict
England endured an agonizing three-minute wait during added time as officials reviewed a potential try in the right corner by Bautista Delguy. Video referee Brett Cronan ultimately disallowed the score despite a possible high tackle by Noah Caluori during the buildup, with Henry Slade’s tackle preventing the attempt.
Argentina appeared more focused on off-the-ball confrontations than playing rugby, but they found their rhythm for the second half and nearly triggered another surprise result. “La Cuarta Estrella” – the patriotic anthem celebrated during the football team’s World Cup final journey – energized the home supporters before kickoff.
Unfortunately for the Pumas, the altercation occurred after Tommy Freeman had secured Fin Smith’s kick to cross the line. Apart from some scattered passing, England enjoyed a satisfying opening, demonstrating defensive determination when required.
Carreras crashed over early in the second half with minimal difficulty. England began losing physical collisions, and van Poortvliet’s yellow card for a deliberate knock-on worsened their situation. Coles followed suit with another deliberate knock-on after Slade brought down the charging Tomas Albornoz. Given the proximity to the line, Angus Gardner also awarded a penalty try.
Joaquin Oviedo’s dangerous clear-out on Guy Pepper earned him ten minutes in the sin-bin, providing England with some breathing room. Henry Pollock’s introduction from the bench injected fresh energy into the squad, setting up Marcus Smith’s crossing in the right corner.
Iyogun was the next substitution, and Argentina had their final opportunity through Justo Piccardo. England ultimately secured a hard-fought victory as they survived the final anxious moments that might have allowed the Pumas to claim a draw.
