Argentina 26 England 51: Freddie Burns has a night to remember
England stand-off scores try and kicks 14 points as England hit half-century against Argentina
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Your support makes all the difference.England romped to a seven-try victory over Argentina in Buenos Aires last night, led by a rampant Freddie Burns, who scored 19 of their 51 points himself.
The Gloucester outside half was in unstoppable form as England added further tries from Ron Webber, Marland Yarde and Kyle Eastmond to two penalty tries that underlined their superiority.
It means that coach Stuart Lancaster’s men take the series 2-0 after winning the First Test 32-3 last weekend.
England did not have it quite all their own way, however, and some lack of concentration allowed the Pumas to score two tries of their own and kick four penalties.
The Pumas led 12-6 before England’s pack shoved the Pumas back over their own line and referee Nigel Owens awarded the first of two penalty tries.
In between, Burns stretched for the line and scored 17 first-half points in total, landing all three conversions and two penalties.
Argentina started the second half with 14 men after Bustos Moyano had been sin-binned in the build-up to the third try but the Pumas came at England hard.
Their heavy ball-carriers ground out the yards, driving closer and closer to the England line with a series of strong pick and goes until the right wing Manuel Montero charged through two defenders to score.
But England responded emphatically with three tries in 10 minutes.
Yarde began to grow in influence. The London Irish wing led an England counter-attack and when the ball was recycled, Rob Webber was on hand to charge over the line.
Yarde then took centre stage with a delightful finish out wide, beating two defenders before finishing with a Chris Ashton-style swallow dive.
England were now in complete control and Eastmond ran in their sixth try, dancing through the Pumas defence and beating at least three defenders to score under the posts. Gloucester wing Jonny May was given his England debut at short notice after Christian Wade was called up by the British and Irish Lions and withdrawn from the side to play Argentina.
London Irish wing Yarde also won his first England cap, while Bath’s Eastmond stepped up to make his maiden Test start in place of Billy Twelvetrees, another new Lion. Argentina fielded five changes from the First Test, with captain Felipe Contepomi at fly-half after overcoming an illness.
England were pressed into defence early after Freddie Burns’ kick-off failed to go 10 metres and they were on the back foot for most of the opening quarter.
They closed Argentina down with menace – Tom Wood and Joe Marler being particularly prominent in defence – but Contepomi kicked into the corner, the Pumas kept the pressure on and they took an early lead with a penalty from Martin Bustos Moyano.
Yarde was dumped into touch by Gonzalo Tiesi on his first carry as Argentina displayed their intent to up the ante from last week but a Joe Launchbury turnover gave England the platform to attack and Burns a penalty for offside.
Bustos Moyano, who kicked poorly in Salta last week, restored the lead when David Wilson was penalised for not rolling away as the Pumas hit England hard at the breakdown.
A promising England attack was halted when Jonathan Joseph was turned over in midfield. The Bath-bound centre did his best to make amends when he chased down Bustos Moyano and drew a penalty – but Burns hooked the kick wide.
Bustos Moyano made no mistake after Mike Brown was penalised for not releasing as England had more problems at the breakdown. But England were too strong.
Argentina: Bustos; Agulla, Tiesi, Ascarate, Montero; Contepomi, Vergallo, Roan, Garcia Veiga, Bustos Moyano, Farias Cabello, Galarza, Baez, Macome, Leonardi. Replacements: Guidone, Henn, Gomez Kodela, Lozada, De la Vega, Cubelli, Madero, Orlando.
England: Brown; May, Joseph, Eastmond, Yarde; Burns, Dickson; Marler, Webber, Wilson, Launchbury, Attwood, Wood, Kvesic, Morgan. Replacements: Paice, Doran-Jones, Thomas, Lawes, Vunipola, Wigglesworth, Myler, Foden.
Referee: Nigel Owens
PA
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