SANTA FE, Argentina — A depleted England pulled off a 2-0 series win over Argentina after beating the Pumas 35-25 in the second Rugby test Saturday.
Debuting an 11th player in the absence of a horde of British Lions, England repeated its feat of 2013 by winning both tests in Argentina against a Pumas side that had the benefit of playing as the Jaguares in Super Rugby for four months.
Captain Agustin Creevy said his Pumas were angry and out for revenge after losing the first test in San Juan to a last-minute try, but they were out-managed by England over the last quarter.
After flyhalf George Ford landed a 40-meter dropped goal to give England a 10-point bugger with six minutes left, Argentina rallied in 15 minutes.
But England’s defense was even better.
Replacement prop Matt Mullan and Ford held up replacement scrumhalf Gonzalo Bertranou. At the attacking scrum, the Pumas were held still by England, then scrumhalf Danny Care forced No. 8 Juan Manuel Leguizamon backward and to surrender possession. The danger area was cleared and the victory was England’s eighth straight against Argentina.
The game started in the same hectic fashion as the first one finished.
Charlie Ewels scored beside the post in support of fellow England lock Joe Launchbury, and Argentina replied with fullback Joaquin Tuculet forcing his way over between Marland Yarde and Mike Brown.
Nicolas Sanchez kicked Argentina in front thanks to England losing its discipline for 10 minutes, but Brown put England 18-13 up at halftime when he read a Sanchez crosskick, plucked it out of the air outside his 22, ran into Argentina’s 22 and offloaded one-handed to send in Piers Francis.
There was no let up in the third quarter.
Pumas flanker Pablo Matera blocked Francis’ attempted grubber on halfway, dribbled the ball twice, scooped it up and scored.
Back on attack, the Pumas’ Jeronimo de la Fuente tried a behind-the-back pass but gave it to Ford. In a flash, Brown was streaking through the defense and sending Care to the try-line.
De la Fuente made up for the gaffe with the break for winger Emiliano Boffelli’s second try in the series and a 25-25 tie.
Then England No. 8 Nathan Hughes set up a second try off a lineout maul, finished by replacement prop Will Collier. Ford converted, and his insurance dropped goal gave him 38 points in an entertaining series.
Springboks take series over France
South Africa responded to an early setback with 23 successive points, overpowering France 37-15 in the second Test Saturday to win the three-match series with a game to spare.
The Springboks shrugged off a third-minute try by France fullback Scott Spedding to eventually score four of their own in their best performance under coach Allister Coetzee.
On top of the series victory, it was the Boks’ biggest step on the road back from a woeful 2016 season, which included a record defeat by world champion New Zealand the last time they played in Durban.
“Unbelievable performance,” Coetzee said. “Very proud of how this team has grown over the last nine months. Nine months ago we were all sitting here in a lot of pain.”
Flanker Siya Kolisi set up South Africa’s first and last tries, and scored one himself to be the home team’s standout player at Kings Park. — Agencies
