In a Rugby World Cup bronze final filled with intensity and errors, England managed to hold off a spirited comeback from Argentina and secure a 26-23 victory. Although it served as a small consolation after their heartbreaking semifinal defeat, England’s captain Owen Farrell played a crucial role in the win with his accurate kicking. He landed four penalties and two conversions to contribute 16 points, while Nicolas Sanchez missed a late kick for Argentina that would have leveled the scores. England flanker Sam Underhill, who was a late addition to the squad, delivered an outstanding performance and was named man of the match after making 24 tackles.
Both teams entered the match with a sense of respect and commitment, despite it being a game they would have preferred to avoid. England had previously beaten Argentina 27-10 in their opening group game, but this contest proved to be much closer. Farrell started the scoring with a penalty in the third minute, followed by an excellent try from Ben Earl. Argentina managed to respond with a try from scrumhalf Tomas Cubelli, but England maintained a 16-10 lead at halftime.
The second half began explosively when Santiago Carreras scored a try for Argentina. However, England quickly retaliated as hooker Theo Dan charged down Carreras and scored a try of his own. A penalty from Boffelli reduced the deficit to three points, and the game then became scruffy with multiple replacements, misplaced kicks, and missed tackles. With a scrum penalty, Farrell extended England’s lead, but Sanchez, who had come on as a replacement, responded with a penalty of his own, setting up a tense finale.
Following their devastating loss in the semifinals, England found themselves in a similar situation as Argentina won a penalty with five minutes left. However, Sanchez missed the kick, and England successfully saw out the remaining minutes to secure the bronze medal. Although the prize did not match their previous aspirations, England finished the tournament with six wins from seven games.
Farrell expressed his satisfaction with the team’s performance and their ability to fight until the end. Coach Steve Borthwick praised Argentina’s play and commended both teams for their progress throughout the tournament. On the other hand, Argentina coach Michael Cheika voiced his frustrations with the officiating, but acknowledged his team’s resilience despite the unfavorable circumstances. Cheika’s future with Los Pumas remains uncertain, with reports speculating that Felipe Contepomi may replace him as coach after the World Cup. However, Cheika stated that he had not yet considered what the future holds for him.