England prevail in a second thriller against Argentina
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ByEurosport
Published 17/06/2017 at 21:47 GMT
England completed a 2-0 series triumph over Argentina with a hugely entertaining 35-25 victory on Saturday carved out by a team lacking their powerful British and Irish Lions contingent.
England's scrum-half Danny Care (9) celebrates with teammtes wing Marland Yarde (L) wing Piers Francis (R) and flanker Sam Underhill after scoring the team's third try against Argentina.
Image credit: Eurosport
For the second successive week, Eddie Jones's tourists prevailed in a see-saw try-fest, crossing the line four times through Charlie Ewels, Piers Francis, Danny Care and Will Collier in a throbbing contest.
The cool playmaking and kicking of flyhalf George Ford, who compiled 15 points capped by his decisive 74th-minute drop goal, was also instrumental in the victory.
Argentina, who lost a remarkable first test 38-34 in San Juan, had the initiative midway through the first half and scored three tries from Joaquin Tuculet, Pablo Matera and Emiliano Boffelli.
Yet after Ford's drop goal gave them breathing space, England repelled the Pumas' last push as they sought in vain to become only the second team to beat Jones's side in his 20-match reign.
"I think we found a way to score points. Today wasn't a great performance but we maximised any errors Argentina made," Jones said afterwards.
"It's always good to win, especially against a tough opponent like Argentina. They should be congratulated for the rugby they play."
The match proved as open, fast and as the first Test had been with the result still impossible to call after Boffelli's converted try on the hour made it 25-25.
Yet a driven line-out, finished by replacement Collier, edged England ahead for the fifth and last time in the match, before Ford's drop goal.
England's youngsters -- they blooded 11 new caps on this tour -- then held firm to clinch only England's second series win in Argentina.
Yet experience won the day too with Ford and Care both excellent at controlling affairs behind the scrum and fullback Mike Brown producing two pieces of counter-attacking brilliance to set up the tries for Francis and Care
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