Report
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.
Full-time: England 27-23 Argentina
Argentina falter at the death! Kudos to England who held on. A brilliant first half from them was enough for this victory.
Updated
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.
TRY! England 27-23 Argentina (Isgro, 80)
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.
Updated
Yellow card! England (Coles, 80)
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.
Penalty! England 27-16 Argentina (Ford, 72)
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.
TRY! England 24-16 Argentina (Slade, 67)
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.
Updated
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. But that’s a result of Argentina’s frenetic defence. Momentum is well and truly with them. They’ll get the scrum feed on halfway all the way to their right.
Penalty! England 17-16 Argentina (Carreras, 60)
Now then! This has been some second half from the tourists. 16 unanswered points!
59 min: Argentina win the line-out and maul. That splinters but the continuity is good. They’re keeping the ball close to the ruck. Pollock tries to steal but fails to get back through the gate. Slick from Argentina. They win another penalty, that’s five in a row. They call for the tee. This should be a gimme to make it a one point game.
58 min: Steward takes a great catch under pressure close to his 22 line, but he has o mates in support and the Argentina cavalry smothers him to win a penalty. They nudge it further upfield to set up a line-out about seven out.
57 min: A TON of kick-tennis. Aaargh! Eventually England run it but Curry is drilled and spilles in contact. Argentina try to counter before Isgro rakes a kick ahead but it’s too long. Steward dots down inside his gaol area.
54 min: Feyi-Waboso does really well under a Carreras high kick, winning possession back for his team. England kick it back and Argentina win it in the air just inside their half. Now Moyano, on for Cruz, box kicks and Steward takes it clean. England break down the line as they pass towards the left wing before Ojomoh straightens and is brought down.
52 min: Slade receives a great pass from Spencer and bursts through midfield. Ford hoists a high kick and Daly tips it back towards England’s side. But then Daly nudges a nothing kick that is returned with great interest, forcing Ford to mop up in his own 22. Daly then rakes a clearance but that’s a gain of 60 metres for Argentina thanks to the nothing toe from Daly early. Line-out for Argentina over halfway.
Penalty! England 17-13 Argentina (Albornoz, 51)
A little dink! Argentina have scored 10 unanswered points since the break.
50 min: Here comes the Pom Squad. Pollock, Stewart, Curry and Baxter.
Argentina have already made a triple change with Rapetti, Matera and Oviedo replacing Delgado, Kremer and Grondona.
Meanwhile, Argentina are choosing to kick to poles as Albornoz lines this up to make it a four point game.
50 min: Argentina are into England’s 22 after Daly spilled a high ball. Much better from the Pumas as they are running hard. Cruz snipes and makes ground. They go left and then right. Eleven phases and then Pepper is nailed for illegally slowing the ball down inside England’s 22. Not releasing. Argentina are taking on the rush defence and finding some holes.
48 min: Argentina look more aggressive in the carry. Much better running. OH! But there’s an ugly collision between Steward and Isgro as both go up for a high ball. Steward is penalised but they were both looking up. Fair contest. Luckily they are both OK despite the thumping landing. Albornoz kicks to touch. A messy line-out is ssecured on halfway by Argentina.
Updated
TRY! England 17-10 Argentina (Piccardo, 46)
Much, MUCH better from the Pumas! From a scrum, Piccardo explodes through midfield and gets rare front foot ball. Then Cruz recylced and they kept going. Slick movement, patience. Delgado came close with a short carry before the gap opened under the shade of the poles and Piccardo finished the move he started. The easy extras are added and it’s just a seven point game.
Updated
43 min: Now England spill the ball as Feyi-Waboso knocks on in the right tram after Pepper secured the line-out. Been one of those games.
41 min: Early penalty for Argentina, conceded by Underhill. That gives Argentina a line-out upfield that is won but England have it back after flattening Kremer who got a hospital pass in midfield.
The players are back on the pitch.
Big job for Argentina but if anyone can, the Pumas can.
Can’t see it happening myself. England have controlled this. Can they see it home?
Let’s find out.
Jeremy Boyce wrote in before kick-off.
Here’s what he had to say:
In your totally made up north v south nonsense you forgot to mention that Chile put up a decent showing yesterday against a pretty sturdy Italian team. Chile were a joy at the last World Cup and they need more game time against the bigger boys. As for Argentina, I love them, especially as I had the joy (as an England man) of spending the opening evening of the 2007 rugby world cup at a local club on the Paris outskirts, when Argentina spoiled the hosts’ opening party with their surprise and well-deserved victory. More Ole Ole than Allez Allez. I’ve never seen so many long faces in my life before and it was hard not to titter openly. As you say, scalping England at Twickers is surely on their bucket list, but they might have to wait a little longer for that one given how well England are going just now.
Half-timeL England 17-3 Argentina
Dominance from the home side without getting out of second gear.
Not very impressive from the tourists who looked one dimensional, inaccurate and short of ideas beyond hoofing away possession.
Credit, though, to England, especially Ojomoh who scored a poacher’s try and a set up another with a magnificent cross-field assist.
Back in a bit.
40+ min: Cowan-Dickie is over! That looked far too easy but I tell you what, that is some finish. The maul got a great shove on before fracturing. The England hooker rode a challenge and wriggled his body to reach out and score.
But did he lose it before grounding? Looks like it. They need another look at this.
NO TRY!
40 min: A ton of kick tennis. Both teams don’t want the ball. It ends with. Argentina straying off-side. Kremer grabbed a bouncing ball after not getting back on-side. So that means Ford has the option to shoot at goal or nudge to the corner. He goes for the latter and England will get a line-out about eight metres out on the left.
39 min: Ford misses, pushing it across the face of the uprights.
38 min: England win a penalty within range as Daly chases a high kick and chooses not to compete. But he times the challenge to perfection and gets over the ball, forcing Albornoz to hold on as he’s grounded. Argentina are playing the game England want them to play. Or maybe England are forcing Argentina into a box. Credit and blame should be shared across this one as Ford lines up a shot at goal from the left.
37 min: Both teams trade kicks. The final one is from Ford who has to mop up a loose ball in the backfield. He steadies himself and drills it to halfway.
Penalty! England 17-3 Argentina (Albornoz, 35)
Pumas on the board! That wasn’t an easy kick. He gave it everything and just about cleared the cross-bar. But it’s over from 45 metres.
34 min: England have a scrum and set up Ojomoh for a midfield run. But Argentina read the play like an open book and pick him off on the floor to win a penalty. As they’d look at the poles they’re just to the right about 45 metres out.
32 min: Oh wow! What’s happened here? I’ll give it a go. Mallia makes a break and then Moroni does the same. The second one is a scything run that almost breaks England open. He needs help. He has it to his right and tries to play a pass but it’s knocked backwards by the covering England defender. There’s a penalty before as Earl took a player out off the ball. Better from Argentina. More direct and more aggressive to the line. No penalty advantage though? Seems so. Moroni’s pass was kicked ahead by an Argentine boot so England get the goal-line drop out.
Hope that makes sense. There was quite a lot going on.
30 min: Another Argentine kick is too long. Steward gathers an easy mark. Not sure I understand the strategy from the Pumas here. They need to try something different. They try running it from halfway but England’s rush defence is more than equal to it. The home side is dominating this.
28 min: Argentina need to pull their fingers out. They’ve not been clinical. Cruz kicks a ball away and meekly hands possession back from the back of a line-out. England hoist a high kick back. It bounces out so Argentina get another throw to the line from inside their own half.
TRY! England 17-0 Argentina (Feyi-Waboso, 25)
On a sixpence! Ojomoh has unfurled a perfect cross-field assist for Feyi-Waboso and the winger flies in across the line. What a kick from the England centre! It came off the back of a scrum that fractured. Ford went one way so Ojomoh deputised at first receiver. He saw his mate in acres of space and landed the kick right where it needed to be on the right wing. Ford squeezes the conversion on the right side of the post.
Updated
24 min: England don’t do anything with their possession. Ford lifts a very high kick that is taken after a bounce by Argentina. They kick back. The ball bounces awkwardly so England have to mop up in their own patch under pressure. More kick tennis ends with a scrum for England just over halfway. Not exactly a thrill a minute, this one.
22 min: Now Argentina give away a soft penalty as Feyi-Waboso is obstructed by Gonzalez as he chases after a hanging high kick. Was that soft? Did the England winger milk it? Either way, Cowan-Dickie finds his jumper at the line-out and now England are building an attack inside Argentina’s half.
21 min: Carreras has missed a very gettable penalty from the 22! That’s a poor kick to be honest. He crunches the left upright as he’s looking at them and Itoje catches it after a juggle. Ford them thumps it upfield before Itoje steals Argentina’s line-out. The Pumas are not executing some basic skills.
20 min: Great. steal from Montoya as Steward runs it back from inside his own 22. Daly gathered a long kick and flung a pass back infield that hung in the air a long time. That gave Argentina the opportunity ti canter up and hit Steward before his mates could help. Within range.
19 min: Spencer thwacks a box kick and finds touch on halfway. Solid D from the English. Among the many things that have clicked this autumn, their defence has been impressive.
18 min: Held up! Cowan-Dickie makes a big tackle on Gallo under his own poles. Three phases on that move. It looked like it was working, as they maintained options off the ball, but a solid hit from the England hooker means England survive.
17 min: Penalty scrum for Argentina. Will they pack down again? Nope. Tap and go this time…
16 min: Ford’s clearing kick from inside his own goal area is charged down! Feyi-Waboso mops up, but because the ball was taken back by Spencer it means Argentina have another five metres scrum. Can they make this one count?
14 min: Argentina look slick off the back of the scrum. Cruz has it zipping and is picking the right pass, he creates a hole in midfield as Ojomoh shoots out but the big prop Gallo can’t hold on, spilling the ball before contact. That’s about two metres from the line. If he caught it he’d surely be scoring.
12 min: Penalty for Argentina, against Itoje for straying off-side. Albornoz is off the field for Carreras. Not sure why. HIA maybe? Either way, the new fella kicks a raking kick and it lands close to England’s line, where the penalty will take place and they’re going to pack down for a scrum. Big opportunity here to strike. Small blind down the right. Loads of options left.
TRY! England 10-0 Argentina (Ojomoh, 10)
A point a minute so far! From nothing! A high contestable kick causes a mess in Argentina’s backfield. They can’t control it and pressure from the chasing Pepper sees the ball spill loose and move backwards. Before anyone in blue and white can react, Ojomoh pounces and canters home from about 40 metes out. Ford slots a simple penalty and England are thrumming.
Updated
Drop-goal! England 3-0 Argentina (Ford, 9)
England strike first! Cowan-Dickie combines with Underhill at a slick line-out and Underhill is charging upfield. he makes 20 odd metres before he’s hauled down. The ball goes wide to Ojomoh who is nailed but they recycle. They go back right where Feyi-Waboso puts Delguy on his backside with a stiff hand-off. England keep moving until Ford pulls the trigger and sticks the landing with a perfect drop.
7 min: Penalty to England in the scrum. Two scrums. Two penalties. Slade has the ball and will clear from his 22, finding touch between halfway and the 10 metre line.
6 min: Yet again Argentina cough up possession at the line-out. How frustrating for the visitors. Not straight again. England choose to scrum again, this time five out from their own line.
5 min: Argentina win the penalty at the scrum. Not driving straight from the English. Genge isn’t happy (is he ver?). Albornoz hoofs it from halfway to inside England’s 22 for a line-out.
4 min: England challenge at a line-out and Montoya throws skew, which means England get the ball and can choose a scrum or line-out themselves. Itoje celebrates. Libbok was penalised for celebrating a knock-on. Are we going anything similar moving forward?
3 min: Daly climbs high to take a high ball cross-kick but is beaten to it by Mallia. Argentina kick it back but too long and Ford takes an easy mark. I hope those in the front rows have a massage booked this week. They’ll be staring up a lot this afternoon.
1 min: Ojomoh takes the kick-off and Spencer hoofs it out of touch from the box. Pumas line-out on halfway. England attack it but Argentina come away with the ball. Albornoz hoists it high and Feyi-Waboso runs it back. Early probes.
Argentina in blue and white, England in navy blue.
Not sure how I feel about the home team having to change kit, but there you go.
Anthems now. Argentina might have the longest one in tier 1 rugby (maybe South Africa?). England surely with the shortest.
Not sure if anyone else in the world finds that interesting.
The players are heading out the tunnel as a remix of Coolio’s Gangster’s Paradise plays out.
England are ranked third in the world. Argentina are ranked sixth.
Both teams are unbeaten this autumn.
Should be a proper game.
This is Argentina’s third and final game of the autumn.
They spanked Wales by a record score and, as we’ve said multiple times, did the business as they came from behind to stun Scotland.
But this is the big one. This could be one of their biggest wins in their history. England are a mighty fine team. They’ll take some beating.
Not long to go now.
Scotland beat Tonga 56-0 to sign off their autumn in style.
Other results from the weekend:
Wales 26-52 New Zealand
Ireland 13-24 South Africa
France 48-33 Australia
Italy 34-19 Chile
In the totally made up and not-to-be-taken-seriously rivalry between north and south, we’re at 3-2 in favour of the northerners.
Here’s some words from England’s skipper, Maro Itoje:
Argentina are a quality side - I play with a number of them, they are extremely talented.
We have seen what they have done in the Rugby Championship and they beat us here a couple of years ago [2022’s 30-29 defeat].
We know their danger and quality and they can definitely hurt us.
Reader Rogorn Moradan has a suggestion for World Rugby (and we know you’re following, dear leaders):
Number of Tier 1 rugby teams: 12
Number of test matches played in 2025 by those 12 teams (correct me if I’m wrong):
15 Australia
14 South Africa
13 New Zealand, Argentina
12 England
11 Ireland, France, Wales
10 Italy
9 Scotland
8 Japan
7 Fiji
Come on, World Rugby, join the dots. A 12-team Nations League every year (everybody playing everybody once) except for World Cup years. South Africa v England every year. New Zealand v Ireland every year. Team ending 12th would have to defend their place against the best team from Tier 2. At the same time as that 13th promotion-relegation match happens, teams 1-11 play someone else from Tier 2 to check how good they are and make any adjustments. Regional baubles like the Six Nations title or the Southern Hemisphere equivalent can still be awarded by compiling the relevant results.
Some quick stats for ya:
England’s November wins have been by margins of 18, 20 and 14 points
Argentina have scored 24 or more points in each of their last nine Test matches
England have won their last ten matches including two victories in Argentina
England have won their last 11 matches, so naturally there’s one question on everyone’s lips:
Would they beat the number one side in the world, the South African Springboks if they were in town?
“Be careful what you wish for,” says former England wing, Ugo Monye, in his latest column for the G:
England have won 14 of their last 15 meetings with the Pumas.
Insert exploding head emoji here.
How? Why? Is it mental? Is there something about England’s game that has proved impossible for Argentina to crack?
No really, I’m asking.
While you chew on that, have a squiz at Rob Kitson’s latest:
Argentina team news
A formidable back three of Juan Cruz Mallia, Rodrigo Isgro and Bautista Delugy will look to strike from deep and contest in the air.
It’s a mobile back row with Marcos Kremer starting and the excellent Pablo Matera named on the bench, likely as a response to England’s Pom Squad.
There are three Harlequins players in the group (Isgro, Pedro Delgado and Guido Pett) while Bath’s Santiago Carreras, who sparked the comeback against Scotland, remains on the bench.
Argentina: 15 Juan Cruz Mallia; 14 Rodrigo Isgro, 13 Matias Moroni, 12 Justo Piccardo, 11 Bautista Delguy; 10 Tomas Albornoz, 9 Simon Benitez Cruz; 1 Thomas Gallo, 2 Julian Montoya, 3 Pedro Delgado, 4 Guido Petti, 5 Pedro Rubiolo, 6 Juan Martin Gonzalez, 7 Marcos Kremer, 8 Santiago Grondona.
Replacements: 16 Ignacio Ruiz, 17 Boris Wenger, 18 Tomas Rapetti, 19 Franco Molina, Pablo Matera, Joaquin Oviedo, Agustin Moyano, Santiago Carreras.
England team news
It’s a new look midfield as Bath’s Max Ojomoh becomes Henry Slade’s 14th partner in midfield.
The original plan was to have Fraser Dingwall, but a side strain means he joins Ollie Lawrence on the list of injured players.
Freedie Steward keeps his spot at fullback, as does George Ford at fly-half, emphasising that coach Steve Borthwick is starting to settle on some key positions.
The Pom Squad makes a return as Tom Curry and Henry Pollock are revved up and ready to unleash chaos off the bench.
England: 15 Freddie Steward; 14 Immanuel Feyi-Waboso, 13 Henry Slade, 12 Max Ojomoh, 11 Elliot Daly; 10 George Ford, 9 Ben Spencer; 1 Ellis Genge, 2 Luke Cowan-Dickie, 3 Asher Opoku-Fordjour, 4 Maro Itoje, 5 Alex Coles, 6 Guy Pepper, 7 Sam Underhill, 8 Ben Earl.
Replacements: 16 Theo Dan, 17 Fin Baxter, 18 Will Stuart, 19 Charlie Ewels, 20 Tom Curry, 21 Henry Pollock, 22 Alex Mitchell, 23 Marcus Smith.
Updated
Preamble
We’ve had an absolutely bonkers weekend of rugby so far.
Wales pushed the All Blacks and gave them a proper scare. South Africa and Ireland played out a chaotic classic. France and Australia traded blows like two drunk boxers in a bar.
It’s been that sort of autumn. But amidst the madness Steve Borthwick’s England have been composed and efficient and they have a chance of claiming a clean sweep against the visiting southerners this afternoon.
They’ve had the beating of Argentina if all four of their last meetings, including two comfortably triumphs in the 2023 World Cup.
But the Pumas are an improved side and not only pack a punch in the pack but can also strike out wide with some dazzling carriers.
They had to dig deep to overturn a deficit in the comeback win over Scotland last week. Have they emptied the tank? Or have they left enough fuel for one more explosive outing?
We’ll find out soon when things kick-off at 4:10.
We’ll have teams and further updates between then and now.
Any thoughts about this game or any other this weekend? I’d love to hear from you.
