What a heart-pounding thriller unfolds when England's rugby heroes cling to victory by their fingertips against a relentless Argentina comeback—imagine the roar of 80,000 fans as fate hangs in the balance!
In a nail-biting encounter from the Quilter Nations Series, the hosts England eked out a narrow 27-23 triumph over Argentina at Twickenham, showcasing their resilience amid a fierce Pumas resurgence. Max Ojomoh's dazzling debut steals the spotlight, propelling England to an impressive 11-match winning streak in Test rugby.
But here's where it gets controversial—could this be the moment England's midfield revolution begins, or is Ojomoh just a flash in the pan?
England kicked off with a commanding 17-3 halftime lead, fueled by Ojomoh's early heroics. The 25-year-old Bath centre, in just his second international cap after a summer outing against the USA, made an immediate impact. He darted over for a try after anticipating a fumbled high kick by Argentina's full-back Juan Cruz Mallia, who mishandled the ball on the floor. Even more spectacular was his assist: Facing a dead-end with fly-half George Ford, Ojomoh zipped a crossfield kick to Immanuel Feyi-Waboso, who surged untouched to the line. This lightning maneuver, executed in under 10 minutes, highlighted Ojomoh's seamless integration into the team following Fraser Dingwall's injury against New Zealand.
Their lead might have swelled further if not for a disallowed try by hooker Luke Cowan-Dickie. In a driven line-out play, Cowan-Dickie appeared to burrow over, but the video referee spotted a minor knock-on during grounding—a tiny mistake that cost England dearly, keeping the score at 17-3.
Argentina, fresh from an astonishing 21-point comeback against Scotland the previous week, refused to crumble. Drawing from their squad's extensive season—many players compete in England's and France's leagues, stretching their year to nearly 12 months—they mounted a spirited fightback. Justo Piccardo scored early in the second half, capping off his own break to narrow the gap to 17-10. Penalties from Tomas Albornoz and Santiago Carreras chipped away further, leveling at 17-16 by the hour mark.
And this is the part most people miss: the sheer mental fortitude it takes for a team to claw back from such a deficit—does this say more about Argentina's grit or England's complacency?
England regained control with a pivotal moment. Alex Coles' powerful burst created space for Ojomoh to offload to Henry Slade, who strolled in effortlessly for a try converted by Ford. A subsequent penalty extended their cushion to 11 points, seemingly sealing the deal. But drama escalated in the dying minutes when Rodrigo Isgro's converted try reduced the deficit to four, leaving Argentina poised for a dramatic equalizer.
The Pumas pounded away, backed by a passionate pocket of fans in a sea of England supporters. Yet, a crucial line-out near England's try line failed, sparking wild cheers from the 80,807 crowd. Alex Mitchell's kick into the stands capped a year where England suffered only one loss—a February defeat to Ireland—ending 2024 on a high note.
As relief washed over England fans, Ojomoh was honored with Player of the Match, reinforcing his role in the team's midfield discussions. His debut mirrored his June Premiership final heroics against Leicester, proving he's no novice.
Argentina showed flashes before halftime, like a held-up forward thrust stopped by Cowan-Dickie, Carreras' post-hitting penalty, and Matias Moroni's central break undone by a pass straight to Ford. A penalty from Albornoz was their only reward then.
The second half saw referees in the spotlight—Pierre Brousset penalized Maro Itoje for not releasing a tackled player, awarding Albornoz another three points after Guy Pepper's turnover effort. Coach Steve Borthwick's subs, including Will Stuart, Fin Baxter, Tom Curry, and Henry Pollock, aimed to halt the tide, but Carreras' penalty kept it tight at 17-16.
Twickenham's tension peaked as fans fueled the atmosphere. Mitchell's bench impact, paired with Ford's inside ball to Coles, shifted momentum. Opting for a line-out over a penalty kick, Pollock secured possession, Ojomoh shrugged off Carreras and offloaded for Slade's try. Ford's penalty seemed decisive, but Isgro's late score tested England's defense to the limit.
Ultimately, England escaped with victory, a stark contrast to their 2024 struggles in close games. This habit of late-game wins is a testament to their growing maturity.
England's lineup featured: Steward; Feyi-Waboso, Slade, Ojomoh, Daly; Ford (vc), Spencer; Genge (vc), Cowan-Dickie, Opoku-Fordjour, Itoje (c), Coles, Pepper, Underhill, Earl. Replacements: Dan, Baxter, Stuart, Ewels, T Curry, Pollock, Mitchell, M Smith.
Argentina's team: Mallia (vc); Isgro, Moroni, Piccardo, Delguy; Albornoz, Benitez Cruz; Gallo, Montoya (c), Delgado, Petti, Rubiolo, Gonzalez, Kremer, S Grondona. Replacements: Ruiz, Wenger, Rapetti, Molina, Matera (vc), Oviedo, Moyano, S Carreras.
Scoring breakdown:
- England (17) 27: Tries: Ojomoh, Feyi-Waboso, Slade. Conversions: Ford (3). Penalties: Ford. Drop goal: Ford.
- Argentina (3) 23: Tries: Piccardo, Isgro. Conversions: Albornoz, Carreras. Penalties: Albornoz (2), Carreras.
What do you think, fans? Is Ojomoh the next big thing in England's rugby, or does this narrow win expose vulnerabilities in their defense? And let's debate the refs—fair calls or game-changers? Share your hot takes in the comments below—we're eager to hear if you side with England's grit or Argentina's heart!
