MARSEILLE, France (Reuters) – Flyhalf George Ford kicked all the points to lead 14-man England to a brave 27-10 victory over Argentina in their Rugby World Cup Pool D fixture in Marseille on Saturday, a performance full of intensity and guile from coach Steve Borthwick’s side.
Ford, in the team for suspended captain Owen Farrell, equalled the England record of three drop-goals in a World Cup game set 20 years ago by Jonny Wilkinson and gave a masterclass in kicking off the tee.
Such a comprehensive victory had looked unlikely when England lost flanker Tom Curry, playing his first game since May, three minutes into the game as he was given a yellow card, upgraded to a red on bunker review, following a dangerous tackle on Argentina fullback Juan Cruz Mallia.
The South American side were unable to counter England’s forward power, even with a man advantage, however, and were forced into numerous errors by the defensive organisation of their opponents, who put in comfortably their best performance under Borthwick.
(Reporting by Nick Said, editing by Ed Osmond)
