RWC 2023

England claim third place with hard-fought win

October 28, 2023 7:50 am

[Source: Rugby World Cup]

England claimed third place at the Rugby World Cup for the first time after an entertaining, if stop-start, 26-23 victory over Argentina at Stade de France.

Either side of two Owen Farrell penalties, a lovely delayed pass by Marcus Smith put Ben Earl through a gap to score the opening try on nine minutes, which Farrell converted.

The teams exchanged penalty goals before Argentina finally got a proper foothold in the game three minutes before half-time, scrum-half Tomas Cubelli diving over the tryline from close range after Los Pumas stretched the England defence on both wings. Emiliano Boffelli converted.

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Santiago Carreras’s brilliant solo effort put Argentina in front early in the second half but England hit back straight away, Theo Dan gathering his charge-down of Carreras’s kick to score England’s second try. This left Farrell, with a perfect display from the kicking tee, to see his team home.