Argentina 26-51 England, Buenos Aires
England turn on the style against Pumas
June 15, 2013
Date/Time: Jun 15, 2013, 16:10 local, 19:10 GMT
Venue: Estadio Jose Amalfitani, Buenos Aires
Argentina 26 - 51 England
Half-time: 12 - 25
Tries: Leonardi, Montero
Cons: Bustos Moyano 2
Pens: Bustos Moyano 4
Tries: Burns, Eastmond, Webber, Yarde 2, Penalty 2
Cons: Burns 4, Myler
Pens: Burns 2
Try time for England's Freddie Burns, Argentina v England, Estadio Jose Amalfitani, Buenos Aires, June 15, 2013
Try time for England's Freddie Burns at the Estadio Jose Amalfitani
© Getty Images
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England claimed a first ever series clean sweep in Argentina with an impressive 51-26 victory in their second Test clash at the Velez Sarsfield in Buenos Aires.

Match Analysis by ESPNscrum's Graham Jenkins

  • Man of the Match: Winger Marland Yarde finished his Test debut with a huge smile on his face and for good reason - the 21-year-old bagged two tries to help propel England to an historic series clean sweep. Ball-hungry throughout, he showed his pace, strength and ingenuity to snipe up the touchline for his first and displayed a promising understanding with centre Kyle Eastmond to latch onto the ball for his second. Safe to say this will not be his last appearance in an England shirt and is sure to come into the reckoning ahead of the end of year internationals.
  • Key Moment: A much-improved Argentina held a deserved 12-6 lead midway through the first half before England struck with a decisive score that served as a body blow to the hosts' hopes. Fly-half Freddie Burns prodded the ball through the Pumas' defence and centre Kyle Eastmond raced onto the ball and tackled fullback Martin Bustos Moyano over his own line. At the resulting scrum, a dominant England pack claimed a penalty try before Burns gave his side the lead for the first time with the conversion - and they never looked back.
  • Hero of the Game: While prop Joe Marler was a significant presence up front and fly-half Freddie Burns a pivotal playmaker, it is difficult to look past centre Kyle Eastmond's contribution. Making his first start in an England shirt, and only his second appearance in total, the former rugby league star offered a glimpse into a very bright future with an outstanding display that showcased his power, pace and precision. Every time he touches the ball you expect something to happen and on this evidence he can expect to play a big part in England's future.
  • Villain of the Game: Argentina fullback Martin Bustos Moyano was back to his best with the boot after a horror show in Salta last weekend but his discipline let him down just before half-time with his cynical efforts to snuff out an England attack rewarded with a spell in the sin-bin.
  • Talking Point: What has happened to the much-vaunted Argentina scrum? The Pumas' second string pack were bullied by an under-strength England scrum to the tune of two penalty tries. The home crowd were stunning into silence by a rampaging England pack and the hosts will need to rediscover their bite ahead of the Rugby Championship. The return of their big guns will clearly help but this game may scar their fringe players.
  • Play of the Game: England centre Kyle Eastmond lit up the game with his sensational second half try. The England forwards inflicted yet more pain on their rivals to lay the platform for Eastmond who then picked the ball up in midfield before jinking his way past five defenders on his way to line where he weathered the challenge of two tacklers before touching down. It is a score that the player, and the rest of the world, will remember for some time.

Marland Yarde marked his international debut with two tries and Kyle Eastmond, making his first England start, touched down for a dazzling solo score. There were also maiden Test tries for fly-half Freddie Burns and hooker Rob Webber.

England's victory was founded on some shuddering defence and a dominant scrummaging display towards the end of the first half, which earned them two penalty tries.

It took Stuart Lancaster's men some time to adjust to Argentina's intensity, particularly at the breakdown, and the Pumas led 12-6 before the England pack took control.

Argentina muscled their way over for two tries after the interval, scored by Manuel Montero and Tomas Leonardi, but England were quickly out of sight and celebrating a 2-0 series win.

England had been forced into a change just hours before kick-off when Christian Wade was called up by the British and Irish Lions, opening the way for Jonny May to make his debut on the right wing.

Yarde took over from David Strettle to win his first cap on the left wing and Eastmond was given his first Test start in midfield in place of Billy Twelvetrees, who was summoned to Australia by the Lions on Wednesday.

Last weekend, England's forward dominance led to a first-half blitz the Pumas as they romped to a 32-3 victory in Salta but Argentina had learned their lesson.

They attacked England around the fringes, playing tight and with intensity and the visitors lost the breakdown battle in the first quarter.

Martin Bustos Moyano, who had kicked so poorly in Salta, opened a 12-6 lead for the hosts but the game turned England's way when Eastmond tackled the Pumas fullback over his own try-line.

England drove the Puma scrum backwards and referee Nigel Owens awarded the penalty try, with Marler receiving the congratulations of his team-mates. Burns' conversion edged England ahead for the first time.

Matt Kvesic thought he had touched down for a second try but television official Shaun Vledsman spotted a knock-on earlier in the move and chalked it off.

It was not long before England did have their second try, with Burns stretching for the line after their most fluid attack of the half and some incisive build-up play down the right from Eastmond and Yarde.

England piled forward again, hunting a third try before the interval. Bustos Moyano was sin-binned for diving in off his feet at a ruck five metres out.

Captain Tom Wood called for the scrum, the England set piece sent Argentina into reverse gear again - and referee Owens marched under the posts for a second time.

Argentina knew they could not break down England's shuddering defensive system so threw their heavy ball-carriers at the men in purple, grinding out the yards with a series of strong pick-and-goes until Montero charged over to score.

For a moment, the Puma support hoped for a comeback. But those ambitions were shredded as England scored three tries in 10 minutes and Yarde began to grow in influence.

The London Irish wing led an England counter-attack and Webber was on hand to charge over the line. Yarde then took centre stage with a delightful finish out wide, beating two defenders before finishing with a Chris Ashton-style swallow dive.

England were now in complete control and Eastmond ran in their sixth try, dancing through the Pumas defence and beating at least three defenders to score under the posts.

After suffering that three-try salvo, Argentina battered their way through England's defence again and Leonardi burrowed his way over.

But England and Yarde had the final say. Stephen Myler, on for his debut, orchestrated a slick backs move and Eastmond's inside ball sent Yarde searing through a gap for his second try.

Argentina's Julio Farias Cabello attempts to claim the ball at the Estadio Jose Amalfitani © Getty Images
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