05/10/2019

Rugby World Cup - England 39-10 Argentina, Tokyo - England qualify for quarter-finals with Bonus Point win

England's six tries were enough to see off Argentina and book a place in the World Cup quarter-finals.

England 39-10 Argentina

HT 15-3
Tries: May, Daly, B Youngs, Ford, Nowell, Cowan-Dickie/Moroni
Conversions: Farrell (3)/Boffelli
Penalties: Farrell/Urdapilleta
Photo from BBC Sport
England made it three bonus-point wins from three with six tries against 14-man Argentina to book their place in the World Cup quarter-finals.
Tomas Lavanini was sent off early on for an illegal tackle on England skipper Owen Farrell, and Eddie Jones' men soon opening the floodgates with Jonny May, Elliot Daly and Ben Youngs all crossing for a 12-point lead at half time.
In a more subdued second half, there were tries for George Ford, Luke Cowan-Dickie and Jack Nowell in the sweltering Japanese capital Tokyo.
The Pumas - semi-finalists in two of the last three tournaments - are knocked out at the group stage for the first time in 16 years.
England have grown into the tournament, following their scrappy win against Tonga, they have found their straps against USA and now Argentina, knowing that victory against France will likely set up a last eight clash with Australia.
This was by no means a perfect performance, but England are heading in the direction that coach Eddie Jones would want them to be, with the following matches promising to get increasingly challenging.
Photo from BBC Sport
England had gone two full matches without ever being behind in the tournament, and May was able to prevent Matias Moroni running in from Urdapilleta's cross-kick, with the winger saving the try thanks to a burst of pace to take him to the loose ball.
But from the five-metre scrum that followed, Urdapilleta scored a penalty before England struck back moments later.
Daly and Anthony Watson combined down the right, before driving a line-out to within a few metres, and with the Pumas defence committed, fly-half Ford found May who accelerated into the corner.
After a frenetic start, the passion and energy spilled over into the red card incident.
Youngs tapped a quick penalty to Farrell, only to be thumped on the head by Lavanini's shoulder.
Referee had no choice but to produce the red under the revised tackling protocols, with Argentina's promise of a war becoming all too literal.
Farrell hooked the long range penalty, but width became the priority as England aimed to tire the 14 men.
May was set free deep into the 22 but Daly, with Manu Tuilagi charging on when the ball was worked right, and after a number of forward drives to withing half a metre, Ford fed Daly again, who juggled before accelerating past Emiliano Boffelli and across the line.
And even though the half-time gong had sounded, England were ruthless and determined as Youngs dived over after going through an impressive 20 phases.
But for some erroneous kicking by Farrell, England could have been out of sight - three conversions and the penalty miss kept the lead at 15-3.
Photo from BBC Sport
Jones took no risks over the ankle injury that had seen Billy Vunipola receive treatment in the first half, replacing him with Lewis Ludlum.
Having been nowhere near the squad six months ago, Ludlum added dynamism to the already impressive back-row performances of Tom Curry and Sam Underhill.
Ford also capitalised using the quick ball against a flagging defence, with Tuilagi taking three defenders with him before his Leicester team-mate spotted a gap and crushed over from close range.
Farrell added the extras this time, but continued to look shaken after the collision and despite this, Jones kept his talisman on the pitch while replacing Youngs and Nowell for Willie Heinz and Mako Vunipola.
As Argentina dug in to prevent humiliation, the expected deluge of points for England failed to materialise, with the pace and punch disspating from the contest.
The Pumas struck next, running a switch of quick line-out ball to put Santiago Carreras through on a first-phase ball, who found Moroni on his right under the posts.
Nowell responded, bouncing off three blue-and-white shirts to dive into the right corner, and Cowan-Dickie profited from a driving maul in the dying seconds.

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