England vs Argentina: 5 Greatest moments from England's battles with Los Pumas

With those selected for the British and Irish Lions away in Australia, Steve Borthwick will have to rotate his side in South America.

England and Argentina have a lot of history playing against each other with plenty of good battles over the years that have produced some iconic moments.

Take a look back at some of the best from previous games between the two nations.

In one of the most unforgettable finishes between England and Argentina, Denny Solomona delivered a moment of magic. With minutes left and England trailing after a late Juan Martin Hernandez drop-goal, the game seemed gone.

Then Solomona, making his debut appearance, gathered the ball near halfway. Moments earlier he'd missed a couple of tackles, but what followed was remarkable. He shook off the first defender, sliced through the line, brushed off Matias Moroni, and raced under the posts to steal victory.

It capped a breathless contest in which both sides exchanged brilliant tries. A youthful England squad missing 30 players had 11 uncapped names in the match-day squad.

Yet they showed real spirit. Among them, 18-year-old Tom Curry and Solomona stood out, proving England’s future was in strong hands.

In the same game, a certain Tom Curry was one of the 11 uncapped players thrust into the starting XV.

At just 18 years old, he was thrown into the first Test during a time when many senior players were away with the British and Irish Lions or injured.

Despite his age, Curry delivered a performance full of grit and maturity, making his presence felt at the breakdown and showing flashes of the player he would soon become.

That match marked the start of a brilliant international career. Curry has since earned over 60 caps, played in a World Cup final, and starred in a Six Nations-winning campaign.

This summer, he’ll miss the tour to the USA and Argentina, this time not as a newcomer, but as a Lion again, heading to Australia after starting all three Tests in South Africa in 2021.

Ben Youngs ended his international career in emotional fashion, helping England secure a narrow 26–23 win over Argentina in the 2023 Rugby World Cup bronze final.

Earning his 127th cap, the most by any England men’s player, Youngs started at scrum-half and came out victorious in his final Test in Paris.

Replaced by Danny Care early in the second half, he watched nervously from the bench as England held off a late Argentine fightback. When the final whistle blew, it wasn’t just a win, it was a moment of closure for a player who has given everything to the shirt since his debut in 2010.

Fittingly as well following on from Tom Curry's debut, this game represented his 50th England cap and he came out before the game to a standing ovation to mark the special occasion.

Youngs has since retired from club rugby too, departing Leicester Tigers after their Premiership season concluded at Twickenham this June.

Although not a close match, England's 39-10 win over Los Pumas at the 2019 World Cup was one of the best from an English perspective.

The match turned early when Argentina lock Tomas Lavanini was sent off for a dangerous tackle on Owen Farrell, leaving the Pumas down to 14 men with over an hour to play.

England took full advantage, scoring six tries in total. Jonny May, Elliot Daly, and Ben Youngs crossed before half-time, with George Ford, Luke Cowan-Dickie, and Jack Nowell adding more in the second half.

Despite the hot and humid conditions in Tokyo, England played with intensity and purpose.

Argentina, passionate as ever, showed flashes of fight, but England’s quality proved too much. It was a defining performance in their run to the final where they would eventually fall to the Springboks at the final hurdle.

Argentina’s famous 25–18 win over England at Twickenham in 2006 is one of their proudest moments against England.

It was a day when everything came together for Los Pumas and nothing quite clicked for the hosts. Federico Todeschini was the hero, scoring 22 points, including a brilliant 70-metre interception try that silenced the home crowd.

England took a narrow lead into half-time thanks to tries from Paul Sackey and Iain Balshaw, but their performance was riddled with mistakes. Argentina’s physicality, organisation, and relentless pressure told in the end.

With every English error, Todeschini punished them from the tee. By the final whistle, the Twickenham crowd was booing and Argentina was celebrating. It wasn’t just a win, it was a statement, and one of their finest against England.