Los Pumas fall to England amid controversy and game concerns

Santiago del Estero – Los Pumas suffered another defeat against England, extending their winless streak against the team known as "the Roses." Despite a special tribute featuring a commemorative jersey honoring Argentina's 1986 World Cup-winning football squad, the rugby team fell 31-24 in a dramatic finish at the Estadio Único Madre de Ciudades. A late, controversial call by the Television Match Official (TMO), which appeared to miss a high tackle on Bautista Delguy, left the Pumas with significant questions about their performance and a potential draw denied.

The match, played amidst a World Cup atmosphere, saw the stadium filled to 80% capacity. Pre-game and during the game, chants of "He who does not jump is English" echoed through the stadium, highlighting the intense rivalry. The Pumas, visibly emotional, struggled in the first half with numerous handling errors and appeared overwhelmed by the pressure. England's solid defense and effective attack, spearheaded by the electrifying Immanuel Feyi-Waboso, exploited the Pumas' defensive frailties, with Ben Earl scoring two tries, the second following a dominant scrum.

Argentina's comeback attempt in the second half showed more spirit than cohesive play. Tomás Albornoz, wearing the iconic number 10 jersey, sparked some promising sequences with a skillful chip kick. Mateo Carreras scored the Pumas' first try, and a penalty try was awarded after a blatant infringement by England's Alex Coles near the try line. The match was marred by numerous penalties and yellow cards, with seven players sin-binned in total – three from Argentina and four from England.