The Rugby World Cup continues with a massive Pool D clash in Marseille this evening. The two favourites to advance from the final group lock horns in the headline fixture of day two, with England desperate to make a fast start to silence their growing army of critics following a dreadful build-up to the tournament.
It has been a harrowing 2023 for England so far, losing six of their first nine matches under new head coach Steve Borthwick, who is already feeling the pressure. Such a run has included a record humbling by France and first-ever loss to Fiji, leaving them a lowly eighth in the latest world rankings – two spots below tonight’s opponents Argentina, who pulled off a deserved victory at Twickenham last autumn.
But all of the mounting negativity could be instantly swept away with an opening win over the physical Pumas, who put 62 points on Spain in their final warm-up Test having finished third at the most recent Rugby Championship. Follow England vs Argentina live below, with expert analysis from Standard Sport’s Nick Purewal at the Stade Velodrome!
Live updates
England 15-3 Argentina
45 mins: All the momentum still with 14-man England at the start of this second period.
Argentina are whistled for offside and Ford punishes them further, this time from the tee.
The lead grows to 12 points.
England 12-3 Argentina
Back underway at the Stade Velodrome!
An enormous 40 minutes ahead for England’s 14 men.
Can they go on to produce a famous victory in Marseille?
Argentina surely can’t be as flat as they were in the first half.
Watch: George Ford hits THREE drop goals for England
Here are all three of those George Ford drop goals in all their glory.
The first player to hit three in one game since Jonny Wilkinson in 2003!
England 12-3 Argentina
Half-time
England fell behind early and endured a nightmare start with Tom Curry’s third-minute yellow card for head-on-head contact with Juan Cruz Mallia upgraded to red following a bunker review.
But they have been incredibly spirited since then, with Ford knocking over three drop goals in just seven minutes to give the 14 men a nine-point lead at the interval.
Superb stuff from England’s No10. Argentina not at the races at all so far, despite their one-man advantage.
England 12-3 Argentina
39 mins: Rattled Argentina have been cranking up the pressure at the set-piece to try and hit back before the break.
But England hold their nerve and end up with the put-in at the latest scrum.
If they keep possession of the ball here, it will be rifled straight out of play for half-time.
And that is indeed what happens.
England 12-3 Argentina
Standard Sport’s Nick Purewal at the Stade Velodrome
Three drop goals from Ford hand England a 12-3 lead that is barely deserved but will do very nicely.
Argentina will be kicking themselves for bungling a tap penalty move in England’s 22 that allowed Borthwick’s men back into the contest.
England 12-3 Argentina
36 mins: He’s done it again!
George charges out from the back of a maul to gain crucial metres for England, who are deep inside the Pumas’ 22.
Ford then duly bangs over a THIRD successful drop goal, this time from close range.
Extraordinary.
England 9-3 Argentina
35 mins: Santiago Carreras proves no George Ford as his own drop-goal attempt misses the mark.
Now Matera has clattered into Steward after an aerial take, with the England fans inside the Stade Velodrome baying for a card.
It doesn’t come.