England survive late surge by Pumas in tough match

The impending Budget may provide grim portents over the economy’s prospects but for England’s rugby team, the signs of growth are clear. With a win over Argentina, Steve Borthwick’s evermore impressive side completed 2025 unbeaten on home soil and rolling into the Six Nations on a run of 11 consecutive victories. After last year's winter of discontent for English rugby, a Christmas of greater cheer beckons despite an imperfect performance here.

- HARRY LATHAM-COYLE

For the first time since 2016 and the heady early days of Eddie Jones, four southern hemisphere sides have come to Twickenham in November and sent back over the equator beaten. If New Zealand last week was England's defining challenge of a Quilter Nations Series in which they avoided international rugby's biggest beast, South Africa, this win over an Argentina team full of threat was nonetheless another showing to illustrate England's progress.

Not that it came easily at all. This was a thumping tussle of a Test match in which Argentina roared back to within a point in a second half rally that caused plenty of angst around Twickenham – but having found ways to lose in the final quarter a year ago, this evolving England once again, just about, steered their way safely home.

Tensions, though, flared after the full-time whistle with Tom Curry involved in a scuffle with the Argentina players and subsequently accused of shoving Pumas coach Felipe Contepomi in the tunnel. “Clearly, I am aware there was an incident,” Borthwick said. “I didn’t see it, I wasn’t there, I was in the changing room at the time. I think that anybody that has had any contact with Tom Curry knows his character is impeccable. He is a fantastic team man and a respectable guy.”