England held off a furious second-half comeback from Argentina to win 27-23 in a bruising, emotionally charged Autumn Nations Series 2025 match on Sunday, November 23, 2025, at Allianz Stadium Twickenham in London. The victory kept England’s tournament record perfect at four wins from four — but the manner of it left fans and coaches alike breathing hard. For 40 minutes, England looked dominant. For the final 35, Argentina looked like they might steal it. In the end, discipline, a few key kicks, and a last-ditch tackle by England’s defense sealed the deal. But make no mistake: this wasn’t a statement win. It was a warning.
A First-Half Masterclass, Then a Second-Half Meltdown
England came out firing. Their scrum, a well-oiled machine under Rugby Football Union coaching, dominated early. Fly-half Owen Ford kicked three penalties and set up a try for flanker Ajomo, whose lightning footwork and offload in traffic had the crowd on its feet. By halftime, the scoreboard read 17-3. Argentina, by contrast, looked disjointed. Their lineouts were sloppy. Their attack lacked rhythm. As the YouTube analysis from RugbyAnalyst noted at 310 seconds: "That could have been an absolute killer play before Halime, but still 17-3. It’s a good lead for England." But rugby isn’t played in halves — it’s played in minutes. And Argentina, under head coach Michael Cheika, had a plan. They knew they were behind. They also knew they’d been outplayed. What happened next was a textbook example of team resilience.Argentina’s Second-Half Surge
The moment the second half kicked off, everything changed. Argentina’s forwards, led by the towering "big Oedo", began driving with terrifying intensity. At the 48th minute, fly-half Picardo sliced through England’s backline on a wide shift, exploiting a gap left by a miscommunication between Daly and the fullback. "Slade can’t get there on the next attack... Picardo gets a well-earned try," the analysis recorded. 17-10. The stadium, moments ago buzzing with confidence, fell silent. Ten phases later, from five meters out, Oedo powered through three defenders and grounded the ball. The conversion was good. 17-17. The game was tied. The crowd roared. Argentina smelled blood. By the 62nd minute, they’d forced two turnovers inside England’s 22. England’s defense, so solid in the first half, began to fray. Coach Steve Borthwick’s face in the coaching box was a study in controlled panic.England’s Lifeline: Discipline and the Boot
Then came the turning point. With 15 minutes left, England’s scrum-half, Tom Curry, intercepted a desperate Argentine pass and kicked it into touch. From the resulting lineout, England executed a 12-phase set piece that drained the clock and wore down Argentina’s defense. Fly-half Ford, who had been erratic all evening, calmly slotted a 42-meter penalty. 20-17. A few minutes later, winger Marcus Daly — who’d struggled with handling all night — broke free on a counterattack and offloaded to fullback Slade, who finished under the posts. 27-17. The lead was back up. But Argentina wouldn’t quit. With two minutes left, Argentina’s replacement prop, Juan Mancini, bulldozed over from close range. The conversion was good. 27-23. The clock ticked under 60 seconds. England had to survive one final phase. Argentina’s fly-half, Picardo, launched a long bomb into the corner. England’s defense held. The whistle blew. Four from four.Who Shone — and Who Struggled
Ajomo was brilliant. His offloads, his footwork, his awareness — he looked like a player ready to lead England’s next generation. Ford? Mixed. His tactical kicking was sharp, but his passing under pressure was shaky. Daly, once a rising star, looked out of sorts — two dropped passes, one crucial knock-on in the 50th minute. Argentina’s Picardo was electric. Oedo? A force of nature. The front row, led by captain Matías Alemanno, carried 147 meters and made 19 tackles. They didn’t win. But they didn’t lose either.What This Means for England
On paper, this was a win. In reality, it was a scare. England’s defense, which had looked impenetrable against New Zealand and South Africa earlier in the series, cracked under pressure. They conceded 20 points in the final 30 minutes — more than they’d allowed in their previous three matches combined. Coach Borthwick will be poring over footage tonight. The scrum was excellent. The set piece was clinical. But the open play? Too sloppy. Too many missed tackles. Too many chances given away. This isn’t the end of the world. But it’s a red flag. England now face Ireland in Dublin on December 1 — a team that thrives on exploiting defensive gaps. If England can’t tighten up, they won’t just lose. They’ll be humiliated.Argentina’s Future Just Got Brighter
For Argentina, this was a moral victory. They lost. But they showed they can match England in physicality, pace, and tactical grit. Their second-half performance wasn’t fluke. It was evolution. They’ve gone from being the team that gets beaten by 30 points to the team that can come back from 14 down in 30 minutes. That’s progress. And with a new generation of forwards like Oedo and Picardo stepping up, their 2027 World Cup campaign just got a lot more credible.What’s Next?
England’s next fixture is against Ireland at Aviva Stadium on December 1. Argentina will host Australia in Mendoza on November 30. Both teams will be analyzing this match for weeks. For England, it’s about fixing cracks. For Argentina, it’s about building momentum.Frequently Asked Questions
How did England manage to win despite their defensive lapses?
England survived thanks to a combination of disciplined set pieces, key penalties from Owen Ford, and a late try from Slade that extended their lead to 10 points with 10 minutes left. Argentina’s late surge brought them within four points, but England’s ability to hold their shape in the final phases — especially in the scrum and lineout — denied them the chance to mount a final, decisive attack.
Who were the standout players for each team?
For England, flanker Ajomo was exceptional with his offloads and pace, while scrum-half Tom Curry made crucial defensive plays. Owen Ford’s kicking kept the scoreboard ticking. For Argentina, fly-half Picardo scored a vital try and orchestrated the comeback, while prop Oedo was a nightmare in the tight phases, scoring a try and making 11 tackles. Both teams’ front rows were dominant, but Argentina’s was more relentless in the second half.
Why was Argentina’s second-half performance so different from the first?
Argentina switched to a more aggressive, forward-driven game plan after halftime, focusing on close-range phases and exploiting England’s tired backline. They also increased their breakdown speed, winning more turnovers. Coaches had clearly studied England’s tendency to overcommit in defense after scoring, and they capitalized on it — particularly on the 10-phase try that tied the game.
What does this result mean for England’s World Cup chances?
It’s a mixed signal. England proved they can win under pressure — a vital trait for World Cup contention. But their defensive inconsistencies, especially in open play, are alarming. If they can’t shore up their tackling and communication against Ireland and France, they risk being exposed by faster, more fluid teams like New Zealand or South Africa in the knockout stages.
How significant is this result for Argentine rugby?
Massively. Argentina hasn’t beaten England since 2017, and this was their closest result in a decade. Showing they can come back from 14 points down at Twickenham proves they’re no longer just underdogs — they’re contenders. With players like Oedo and Picardo emerging, and a new coaching philosophy taking root, Argentina’s 2027 World Cup campaign looks far more credible than it did six months ago.
What role did the match officials play in the outcome?
Referee Pierre Brousset and his team kept a tight rein on the breakdown, allowing a fair amount of physicality but penalizing dangerous play. There were no controversial decisions, but the timing of two key penalties — one for England in the 58th minute and one for Argentina in the 67th — directly influenced field position and momentum. The TV match official, Eric Gauzins, confirmed both tries without overturning them, which was crucial in maintaining the flow of the game.