Van Poortvliet's last minute try seals dramatic series win for England in Argentina

The Guardian

12-07-2025

Replacement scrum-half Jack van Poortvliet scored a try in the final minute as England claimed a 22-17 victory over hosts Argentina at the Estadio Bicentenario in San Juan on Saturday to take the series 2-0.
Argentina led 17-14 at half-time and despite heavy England pressure in their 22, George Ford's penalty was the only points scored in the first 39 minutes of the second period until Van Poortvliet scampered over from a fine break by Guy Pepper.
Centre Seb Atkinson and full-back Freddie Steward scored tries as England, without a host of regular players who are on tour with the British & Irish Lions in Australia, completed a memorable series win.
England had lost hooker and co-captain Jamie George on the morning of the game after he was called into the Lions squad.
Centre Lucio Cinti and wing Ignacio Mendy scored tries for Argentina, who had to weather heavy England pressure in the second half and could not see the game out for at least a draw.
Argentina No 8 Pablo Matera did become the most capped player in his country's history in his 111th appearance, though it was marked with a second-half yellow card.
The tourists made a fast start and had a try inside four minutes. Ford's pinpoint crossfield kick was plucked form the air by Tom Roebuck, who fed debutant Luke Northmore before the latter put fellow centre Atkinson in for the score.
England were reduced to 14 players when Ben Curry was penalised for a high tackle and after Santiago Carreras landed a penalty for the home side, they hit back with a try.
Scrum-half Simón Benítez Cruz managed to hold on to a loose ball and following his darting run, he released Cinti to dot down.
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England showed excellent handling skills to score their second try as they moved the ball first one way and then the next, pulling Argentina defenders into a narrow formation and allowing Steward to canter over in the left corner.
Argentina scored their second try on the stroke of half-time as Steward failed to deal with a chip over the England backline as the ball nicked the post and fell kindly for Mendy to dot down for a 17-14 lead.
Ford's penalty was reward for heavy English pressure early in the second half as he levelled the score. Argentina were having difficulty with their exits from their own 22, which meant they were constantly under pressure, and it tolled as Pepper broke and fed Van Poortvliet to snatch victory at the death.