England clinch convincing 35-12 victory over Argentina in La Plata

Argentina 12-35 England, La Plata

England opened their summer Test series with a powerful 35-12 win over Argentina in La Plata, marking a milestone evening for George Ford, who celebrated his 100th international cap with a commanding performance.

Despite a cagey first half and early discipline issues, England’s second-half dominance proved too much for the Pumas, as they pulled away with four well-crafted tries and assured game control.

The opening 40 minutes were intense and fractured. Both teams struggled to find rhythm, and England faced considerable adversity after being reduced to 13 men.

Lock Alex Coles was the first to see yellow, followed shortly by debutant centre Seb Atkinson, leaving the visitors stretched thin.

Despite their numerical disadvantage, England held firm. Argentina failed to capitalize fully on the two-man advantage, and England’s defensive organisation stood tall.

George Ford kept the scoreboard ticking with a well-struck drop goal, giving England a narrow 3-0 lead at halftime—a testament to their discipline and patience under pressure.

The second half began with a complete shift in momentum. Barely had the whistle sounded when England struck. In the 42nd minute, Tom Roebuck finished off a sweeping move to score the opening try.

Just minutes later, he was over again—this time slicing through the Argentine defence with ease. George Ford added both conversions, and suddenly the lead was 17-0.

With Argentina stunned, England pressed further. Freddie Steward, returning to the side, bulldozed over defenders to add the third try. Ford’s penalty then pushed the score to 25-0, and the visitors looked in complete command.

Argentina responded through their forward pack. Pablo Matera powered over from a close-range ruck in the 64th minute, and five minutes later, Pedro Rubiolo found space to finish a neat backline move. Both tries were converted, trimming the margin to 25-12.

However, any thoughts of a dramatic comeback were shut down. Ford slotted another penalty to create breathing room at 28-12, before replacement Cadan Murley capped off a patient build-up in the 75th minute, crashing over for England’s fourth try. With Ford converting, the scoreline reached 35-12, where it would remain.

This was a match of two halves. In the first, England absorbed pressure while down to 13 men. In the second, they shifted into high gear, with Ford dictating play, Roebuck making the most of his opportunities, and the forwards laying a solid platform.

Steve Borthwick’s side showed maturity, structure, and intent—especially in their breakdown work and tactical kicking.

The lineout improved as the match wore on, and ball-handling sharpened considerably after the break. While two yellow cards and a disjointed start will be cause for review, the overall performance was decisive and measured.

The win puts England 1-0 up in the two-Test series, with the decider set for 12 July in San Juan.