- England clinched third place at the Rugby World Cup after beating Argentina
- It was a tough game for England who were pushed right to the wire by Los Pumas
- Ben Earl and Theo Dan both scored tries as Owen Farrell kicked four penalties
After hanging on to beat the resurgent Pumas, England players celebrated by throwing bundles of shirts to their fans in the Stade de France stands, before going up to receive bronze medals.
They wore them with evident, genuine pride. After many months of hard graft and hurried development, they had something to show for all the blood, sweat, tears and fears.
Ben Earl capped a magnificent World Cup by providing the dynamism the national team needed to win this close encounter – with a try, tackles, turnovers and trademark ball-carrying pace and power. Another Saracen, rookie hooker Theo Dan, scored the other England try and their captain for club and country, Owen Farrell finished up with 16 kicking points, as Steve Borthwick’s national team, once again, relied on their boots and their spirit.
It was no classic, but the winners won’t care. Six days after their agonising semi-final defeat against South Africa, they provided a fitting send-off result for their retiring players, including Ben Youngs, Courtney Lawes and Jonny May – and clinched an honourable third-place finish. That seemed highly unlikely not so long ago, when England were in apparent disarray.
The relieved RFU hierarchy and most England fans would have taken this – as the saying goes – before this tournament began. They would have taken this straight after the defeat against Fiji at Twickenham at the end of August, when the prospects of such a lofty position in the global pecking order would have seemed fanciful – delusional even.
They would have taken this after England slumped to a record-breaking, half-century humiliation at the hands of France, in front of a stunned home crowd in the last Six Nations. They certainly would have taken this after Eddie Jones was abruptly sacked last December, to leave a void, an almighty mess and a mountain to climb in a hurry.
Since arriving in France, the revival hasn’t been a thing of beauty – especially not on Friday night – but England have rallied, from the depths of spring and summer chaos, to produce autumn green shoots of recovery and positivity. Steve Borthwick’s team have exceeded expectations.
On Friday night, the Red Rose campaign concluded as it began, with victory over Argentina. First time round, there was heroism in adversity as 14 Englishmen made light of Tom Curry’s third-minute red card to dispatch the Pumas 27-10 on a steamy night in Marseille. This time, the Sale flanker’s team-mates responded to his recent ordeal with a gritty win, albeit an untidy, unconvincing one.
Curry had been engulfed by South African poison ever since complaining to referee Ben O’Keeffe in last weekend’s semi-final that he had been racially abused by Springbok hooker Bongi Mbonambi. Having been selected at blindside in this game, the 25-year-old emerged alone from the tunnel ahead of his 50th Test appearance. He wasn’t feted, but he wasn’t jeered either.
What followed was an opening quarter when England took charge, but were unable to shake off the flawed but tenacious Pumas. A third-minute Farrell penalty set the ball rolling for his team and five minutes later, they claimed an impressive try.
Saracens hooker Dan has emerged as an explosive attacking talent at domestic level and he showed that ability as he blasted through a series of defenders to give England momentum. Farrell released Marcus Smith and the full-back’s smart, delayed pass sent Earl storming through a gap to the line. It was the latest highlight of the No 8’s eye-catching contribution at this World Cup. Farrell converted to make it 10-0.
Another penalty by the captain further extended the lead but the match degenerated. There were errors galore. Neither side could establish fluency. The crowd grew restless. They started indulging in Mexican waves; the universal sign of spectator boredom.
After Emiliano Boffelli struck a penalty for Argentina, Farrell was on target again at the other end. Then came a try from nowhere for the Pumas. Julian Montoya, the South American captain, broke from a rolling maul and his side launched a long-range raid, from side to side. After several drives through the England 22, scrum-half Tomas Cubelli touched down. Boffelli converted to reduce the gap to six points going into half-time.
Saracens hooker Dan has emerged as an explosive attacking talent at domestic level and he showed that ability as he blasted through a series of defenders to give England momentum.
Farrell released Marcus Smith and the full-back’s smart, delayed pass sent Earl storming through a gap to the line. It was the latest highlight of the No 8’s eye-catching contribution at this World Cup. Farrell converted to make it 10-0.
Another penalty by the captain further extended the lead but the match degenerated. There were errors galore. Neither side could establish fluency. The crowd grew restless. They started indulging in Mexican waves; the universal sign of spectator boredom.
After Emiliano Boffelli struck a penalty for Argentina, Farrell was on target again at the other end. Then came a try from nowhere for the Pumas. Julian Montoya, the South American captain, broke from a rolling maul and his side launched a long-range raid, from side to side. After several drives through the England 22, scrum-half Tomas Cubelli touched down. Boffelli converted to reduce the gap to six points going into half-time.
Two minutes into the second half, all hell broke loose, as Argentina went ahead. Manu Tuilagi flattened opposite number Jeronimo de la Fuente and the ball was spilled but fell to Santiago Carreras, who slalomed through the England defence and around Smith to strike under the posts. Boffelli’s extras made it 16-17. Game on.
But the pendulum swung again, seconds after the re-start, as the sudden chaos continued. Santiago Carreras’ attempted clearance kick was charged down by Dan, who ran through, picked up and crashed over the Argentine line. Farrell converted again to put his side 23-17 up.
Two minutes into the second half, all hell broke loose, as Argentina went ahead. Manu Tuilagi flattened opposite number Jeronimo de la Fuente and the ball was spilled but fell to Santiago Carreras, who slalomed through the England defence and around Smith to strike under the posts. Boffelli’s extras made it 16-17. Game on.
But the pendulum swung again, seconds after the re-start, as the sudden chaos continued. Santiago Carreras’ attempted clearance kick was charged down by Dan, who ran through, picked up and crashed over the Argentine line. Farrell converted again to put his side 23-17 up.
It became a tense, kicking climax. Boffelli – hit. Farrell – hit. Nicolas Sanchez – hit. Sanchez – miss. That last lapse was with just four minutes to go. England hung on, thanks to Earl’s surge from a back-pedalling scrum which finally quelled the South Americans’ resistance.
So here’s a recap of English exploits these past two months. They won six of their seven matches and the only one they lost was by a single point – when they were within touching distance of knocking the defending-champion Boks out in the last four.
Trying to build a team and game-plan on the hoof, England made use of their favourable draw to add layers as they went. They were strong and gallant in the opener, pragmatic and commanding in the win over Japan, before a hollow demolition of part-timers Chile. They dodged an upset with a late fightback against Samoa and calmly problem-solved when Fiji threatened to turn their quarter-final upside-down.
The solitary loss was the unfortunate up-shot of England’s best performance, but then came this. It was initially impressive, but became erratic. Poor Smith was targeted in the air and poor Henry Arundell barely touched the ball. It was scrappy and ugly, but they hung on.
Having claimed bronze here, Borthwick has some cause for hope as he starts plotting a new English golden age.
Olivia Martin is a dedicated sports journalist based in the UK. With a passion for various athletic disciplines, she covers everything from major league championships to local sports events, delivering up-to-the-minute updates and in-depth analysis.
