Hello and welcome to our live coverage of the big Pool D clash tonight as England take on Argentina at the stunning Stade de Marseille.

Ciarán Kennedy here to bring you all the latest as it happens, kick-off is at 8pm.

England’s form over the last year has been less than convincing, to say the least. Here’s how Steve Borthwick’s side line up tonight:

A reminder of the team sheet for a huge clash in Marseille#ENGvARG | #RWC2023

— England Rugby (@EnglandRugby) September 9, 2023

And here’s the Argentina team:

𝗟𝗼𝘀 𝟮𝟯 𝗱𝗲𝗹 𝗱𝗲𝗯𝘂𝘁 🇦🇷

📆 Sábado 9/9
⏰ 16:00 h
🆚 Inglaterra 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿
📍 Marsella
📺 @ESPNArgentina #SomosLosPumas | #PorLaGloria pic.twitter.com/64kVRVv4R6

— Los Pumas (@lospumas) September 7, 2023

The teams are out in Marseille. The stadium only looks about three-quarters full with reports of long delays for fans trying to get in. With similar issues ahead of Ireland’s clash with Romania in Bordeaux earlier, let’s hope it doesn’t become a theme of this tournament.

KICK-OFF

3mins: England 0 Argentina 0

An early card after a collision between Tom Curry and Juan Cruz Mallía after the Argentina player collected a high ball. It’s head-on-head and the Pumas fullback comes out with a nasty bang.

Yellow for Curry, and it will be reviewed by the TMO bunker.

PENALTY: England 0 Argentina 3 (Boffelli)

4mins: England 0 Argentina 3

So with Curry in the bin, Boffelli kicks Argentina into an early lead. The winger looked to have sent his kick wide but it curled back in beautifully, and the Pumas are up and running in Marseille.

7mins: England 0 Argentina 3

Another penalty for Argentina, and this time he does drag the kick wide. Bit of a let off that for England. Borthwick’s side have not started well here.

9mins: England 0 Argentina 3

Dear lord. We’re going to the TMO again. A late tackle on Ford by Carreras, and the Pumas 10 joins Curry in the bin. Again, the decision will be reviewed by the TMO bunker.

PENALTY – England 3 (Ford) Argentina 3

10mins: England 3 Argentina 3

Ford slots the penalty and England pull level.

RED CARD – Tom Curry

12mins: England 3 Argentina 3

Wow. Curry’s yellow card has been upgraded to red, and he looks devastated. A disaster for England.

That’s England’s fourth red card since March, by the way. Madness.

20mins: England 3 Argentina 3

Carreras’ nervous wait is over. His yellow won’t be upgraded to red, and he’ll be back on the pitch imminently. Probably worth pointing out that amid all the TMO chat, there’s been some rugby happening. Lots of kicking so far, with England looking a little laboured again in possession. 

22mins: England 3 Argentina 3

Super 50:22 by Carreras after a big steal from Matera brings Argentina deep into England’s half. Another stoppage now, as we have our first water break of the night.

22mins: England 3 Argentina 3

Argentina win the lineout cleanly and power at the England line but there’s a knock-on by Thomas Gallo. Argentina had penalty advantage, they decide to run it and England turn the ball over under the posts. Great work by Courtney Lawes.

DROP GOAL: England 6 (Ford) Argentina 3

27mins: England 6 Argentina 3

Well that came out of nowhere. After absorbing that Argentina pressure, England go on the attack but struggle to find a way through the Pumas defence. Then they sling the ball back to George Ford a he nails a super drop goal from distance.

DROP GOAL: England 9 (Ford) Argentina 3

31mins: England 9 Argentina 3

Well now, Daly drops a long-range penalty effort short, Argentina make a mess of the clearance and then England make a similar mess of the lineout. It’s all very scrappy but then Ford lines up another drop goal from distance and splits the posts. Just like that, England lead by six.

33mins: England 9 Argentina 3

They’re going drop-goal mad in Marseille. After watching Ford nail two, Carreras takes a pop from the halfway line but he’s way off target.

DROP GOAL: England 12 (Ford) Argentina 3

38mins: England 9 Argentina 3

The catch-pass is dead. The drop goal is the back. George Ford has a first-half hat-trick in Marseille.

HALF-TIME

The second half is underway.

PENALTY: England 15 (Ford) Argentina 3

46mins: England 15 Argentina 3

England on top in the early stages of the second half. Argentina cough up another penalty, Ford kicks another three points. The Pumas need a spark here. 

49mins: England 15 Argentina 3

Nothing going right for Argentina at the moment as England win another penalty at the scrum.

PENALTY: England 18 (Ford) Argentina 3

54mins: England 18 Argentina 3

Yep, another England penalty, scored by Ford. This time it came after a monster hit by Tuilagi on Carreras. It’s a very basic gameplan from England, but it’s getting the job done and they are well on top. A reminder – somehow, Argentina are the team playing with an extra man here.

PENALTY – England 21 (Ford) Argentina 3

59mins: England 21 Argentina 3

Copy and paste, Ford with another penalty for England. This one came after Argentina were pinged for offside. The Pumas haven’t scored since the fifth minute.

63mins: England 21 Argentina 3

Another England penalty but this time Daly has a crack, and he misses. Ford then takes a late hit from Matera, but he looks ok to carry on, and play stops for a water break.

PENALTY: England 24 (Ford) Argentina 3

67mins: England 24 Argentina 3

Argentina’s discipline has been shocking. This time the penalty is for not rolling away, Ford says thank you very much and knocks over another three points.

70mins: England 24 Argentina 3

Argentina make a rare trip to the England 22, muscle their way over the tryline but it’s held up. Ben Earl walks away celebrating with blood dripping down his face. 

PENALTY – England 27 (Ford) Argentina 3

75mins: England 27 Argentina 3

George Ford slots another penalty and then departs after a very fine night’s work. A big, big performance from the England 10. Marcus Smith has five minutes to show what he can do. 

TRY – England 27 Argentina 10 (Bruni)

FULLTIME: England 27 Argentina 10

In the final minute of the 80, Rodrigo Bruni gets over for an Argentina try. It’s nothing more than a consolation score on a really disappointing night for the Pumas. After that early red card for Tom Curry, England managed the game well and controlled the tempo as the brilliant George Ford kicked them to an opening weekend win.

There’s still plenty of questions around this England team but they’re on the road to the knockouts now.

Thanks for joining our live coverage tonight, we’ll have a full report and reaction on The 42 shortly.