England winger Tom Roebuck scored two tries and veteran flyhalf George Ford delivered a virtuoso efficiency in a 35-12 win over Argentina within the first check in La Plata on Saturday.
Freddie Steward and substitute Cadan Murley additionally touched down as 32-year-old Ford, celebrating his one hundredth cap, kicked two penalties, a drop aim and three conversions.
With 14 internationals away on British & Irish Lions responsibility in Australia, a depleted England facet began as underdogs towards the Pumas, who beat the Lions in Dublin two weeks in the past.
A gutsy defensive show, nevertheless, was complimented by Ford’s astute management in a efficiency that may add to the talk over whether or not he, relatively than Owen Farrell, ought to been known as up as a Lions’ damage alternative.
England confirmed resolute defence within the first half, 3 times holding up the ball to disclaim Argentina tries because the hosts crossed the guests’ aim line however couldn’t dot down.
Yellow playing cards for lock Alex Coles and debutant Seb Atkinson inside six minutes left England all the way down to 13 males however regardless of this drawback, they took the lead from their first foray into Argentina territory when Ford despatched over a Twentieth-minute drop kick for the one factors of the primary half.
After the break, England went on the assault and scored three tries within the first 10 minutes of the second half to construct a commanding 22-0 lead, to a cacophony of jeers for the house facet from their supporters.
Roebuck, in solely his second worldwide, went over within the nook one minute into the second half, adopted 4 minutes later by a strive for Steward on his return to the England line-up as Ford’s cross allowed him to burst via a niche within the residence defence.
Roebuck strolled in for his second strive after Ford once more pulled the strings in a easy transfer down the road.
The jeers turned to cheers of hope as Argentina tried a fightback with a 53rd-minute strive for veteran flanker Pablo Matera, marking a record-equalling one hundred and tenth look for the Pumas, and a ahead impressed break completed off by lock Pedro Rubiolo.
That diminished the deficit to 10 factors however Argentine errors handed England penalties at key moments and Ford slotted over two penalties to maintain the vacationers’ comfortably forward earlier than Murley’s late strive made positive of victory.
The second check is subsequent Saturday in San Juan.
