BBC SPORT | Rugby Union | International | Argentina beaten by England youngsters

Argentina 18-26 England

England's inexperienced players produced a stunning second-half performance to complete a famous victory in Argentina.

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Clive Woodward's side - denied the services of almost all their regular star names and including five new caps - trailed 12-3 at the interval but scored the only two tries of the match in the second period.

All of the other points in the game came from penalties as the boot - of Gonzalo Quesada in particular - dominated.

Argentina 18-26 England clockwatch

But Argentina could not cross the line even once against the fledgling England team and, with Charlie Hodgson and Tim Stimpson also on form with their kicking, the tourists had more than enough about them.

Hodgson, one of the most experienced English players on view with just 10 caps, led magnificently from the front.

He kicked England into a three-point lead after just six minutes but when he missed another one soon after it opened the way for Quesada to take centre stage.

The Argentine scored four successive first-half penalties to give the home side a 12-3 lead at the break.

Alex Sanderson bursts through the Argentine defence

But England came out for the start of the second half determined to work their way back into the game and after four minutes Ben Kay burst through for the first try.

Hodgson set aside the earlier disappointment of missing a kick by putting through the conversion and further reduce the Argentine lead to two points at 12-10.

Normal service was resumed, however, when Quesada scored another penalty, but almost immediately Kay was held when he burst through again and Hodgson scored another three points.

That made it 15-13 and then England took the lead as Phil Christophers broke through to score a try on his international debut. Hodgson converted.

Hostile atmosphere

In the 66th minute, and under pressure from the hostile crowd as well as the importance of the occasion, Hodgson kicked another penalty to put England 23-15 ahead.

Another penalty from the faultless boot of Quesada made it 23-18 and left the young England side facing a tense last 10 minutes.

But Leicester's Stimpson alleviated some of that pressure with four minutes left as he produced a stunning 50-yard penalty to leave Argentina requiring two scores.

England clung on in the final minutes to complete a win which will live long in the memory of England's rugby supporters.

Woodward delighted by win

Argentina: Corleto, Camardon, Orengo, Contepomi, Albanese, Quesada, Pichot, Reggiardo, Mendez, Hasan, Fernandez Lobbe, Alvarez, Phelan, Longo Elia, Martin.

England: Horak, Stimpson, Appleford, Johnston, Christophers, Hodgson, Gomarsall, Flatman, Thompson, Vickery, Codling, Kay, A. Sanderson, Moody, Worsley.


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