Argentina looses to England in the Rugby World Cup Bronze Final

Rugby World Cup 2023 | Match Centre | Argentina 23:26 England

England concluded their Rugby World Cup journey with a hard-fought victory against Argentina in the third-place play-off held in Paris. Despite an early lead secured by Ben Earl’s try, Argentina made a remarkable comeback, led by Tomas Cubelli and Santiago Carreras, keeping the game tense with a close score until the final moments. Owen Farrell’s precise kicking ensured England stayed ahead amid exchanged penalties, leading to a nerve-wracking finish.

The passionate crowd’s support fueled Argentina’s late push towards England’s line, but an unsuccessful penalty kick by Nicolas Sanchez to level the scores wide allowed England, led by Steve Borthwick, to close their France 2023 campaign with a win. The relief among England’s players was palpable as the final whistle marked the end of a challenging but rewarding tournament.

The victory paralleled England’s initial triumph over the Pumas seven weeks earlier in Marseille, underscoring a journey that began with adversity. Despite early setbacks and a grueling match, England managed to kick-start a campaign that almost led them to the finals against South Africa, falling short by just a minute and a single point.

In this game devoid of the pressure of knockout rounds, several rising stars showcased their potential for future inclusion in the team. Hooker Theo Dan’s energetic performance, including a try early in the second half, and Marcus Smith’s dynamic attacking play highlighted the match’s quality, despite not all of Smith’s initiatives yielding success.

Expectations were high for Henry Arundell, a prolific scorer in earlier matches, but he faced challenges in this game, failing to leave an impact in the first half and conceding a penalty with a misplaced kick later on.

The match witnessed England’s strong start led by Tom Curry and Ben Earl, setting the tone with early points. Despite a resilient Argentine comeback, England’s initial dominance shone through. The second half saw an intense exchange of tries, with Dan showcasing moments at both ends of the field, illustrating the back-and-forth nature of the game.

Argentina’s relentless pursuit to narrow the score kept the game tense, culminating in a missed penalty kick that sealed England’s third-place finish in the Rugby World Cup, marking a significant achievement in the team’s history.