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England effectively ended Argentina’s hopes of a Quarter Final appearance as they defeated Los Pumas 39-10 in front of a packed house in Tokyo on Saturday. It was a match marred by an early red card that left the South Americans shorthanded for the majority of the contest.
Argentina got off to a quick start. England were put under pressure and were already on a warning from the referee after consistent infringements. There was a hint of relief from England as Benjamin Urdapilleta knocked over three points instead of calling for a scrum.
At the other end England were more clinical. They pulled in the Argentine forwards with a maul and when a couple backs went in too, Jonny May was left with far too much space on the left side. He finished with ease to give England the first try.
The decisive moment of the match, however, was not a scoring play. Tomás Lavanini lined up Owen Farrell and though at first the play was waved on, the TMO interjected at the next stoppage. The footage clearly showed a shoulder to the head from the second row on England’s captain, and Nigel Owens had no option but to send Lavanini from the pitch.
With only 14 men to play for the next hour, there was little if any hope left for an Argentine victory. The Pumas did well to hold on but England would find the gaps twice before the half. Elliot Daly stepped around his opposite Emiliano Boffelli and then Ben Youngs went over on the short side of a ruck.
When George Ford went over just six minutes into the second half there was nothing left to play for, with a bad day from the tee for Owen Farrell the only thing keeping Argentina from a blowout score. As it was They would conjure a try from Matías Moroni before the end but it was countered by two from England. Jack Nowell marked his return from injury with a well-taken run into the corner and Luke Cowan-Dickie was at the bottom of a driving maul on full-time.
There is a still a mathematical chance for Argentina to advance but they will need Tonga to score an improbable upset over France tomorrow. Otherwise Los Pumas will play their final match of the tournament against the USA on Wednesday at Kumagaya. England remain unbeaten and will face Les Bleus in the World Cup version of ‘Le Crunch’ in Yokohama next Saturday.
SCORING
ENGLAND 39
Tries – J. May (9’), E. Daly (35’), B. Youngs (40’), G. Ford (46’), J. Nowell (75’), L. Cowan-Dickie (80’)
Cons – O. Farrell 3/6 (47’, 76’, 80’)
Pens – O. Farrell 1/2 (54’)
ARGENTINA 10
Tries – M. Moroni (71’)
Cons – E. Boffelli 1/1 (72’)
Pens – B. Urdapilleta 1/1 (6’)
Red cards – T. Lavanini (18’)
TEAMS
ENGLAND
1 Joe Marler (17 Mako Vunipola 62’), 2 Jamie George (16 Luke Cowan-Dickie 65’), 3 Kyle Sinckler (18 Dan Cole 62’), 4 Maro Itoje, 5 George Kruis (19 Courtney Lawes 55’), 6 Tom Curry, 7 Sam Underhill, 8 Billy Vunipola (20 Lewis Ludlam H), 9 Ben Youngs (21 Willi Heinz 47’), 10 George Ford (22 Henry Slade 68’), 11, Johnny May, 12 Owen Farrell (capt.), 13 Manu Tuilagi, 14 Anthony Watson (23 Jack Nowell 68’), 15 Elliot Daly
ARGENTINA
1 Nahuel Tetaz Chaparro (17 Mayco Vivas 49’), 2 Julián Montoya (16 Agustín Creevy 49’), 3 Juan Figallo (18 Santiago Medrano 49’), 4 Guido Petti (20 Tomás Lezana 54’), 5 Tomás Lavanini, 6 Pablo Matera (capt.), 7 Marcos Kremer, 8 Javier Ortega Desio (19 Matías Alemanno 49’), 9 Tomás Cubelli (21 Felipe Ezcurra 58’), 10 Benjamín Urdapilleta (22 Lucas Mensa 60’), 11 Santiago Carreras, 12 Jerónimo de la Fuente, 13 Matías Orlando (23 Bautista Delguy 56’), 14 Matías Moroni, 15 Emiliano Boffelli
MATCH OFFICIALS
Referee: Nigel Owens (Wales)
Assistants: Ben O’Keeffe (New Zealand) & Andrew Brace (Ireland)
TMO: Marius Jonker (South Africa)
Attendance: 48,185
