As the final whistle blew in Santiago del Estero, Argentina's head coach Felipe Contepomi was left seething – and not just because of the 31-24 defeat his team had suffered at the hands of England. The Argentine gaffer abruptly stormed out of his post-match press conference, blasting his opponents for their 'lack of respect' in the aftermath of the Nations Championship clash.
The drama had been building all game long, with England's commanding 19-3 lead at half-time giving way to a chaotic second-half showdown. The Pumas mounted an incredible comeback, sparked by England's disciplinary woes – four players were sin-binned after the break, leaving Dawson to describe their discipline as 'verging on comical'. Argentina's fans were left wondering if they'd seen a different team in the changing rooms next door to their own.
But it was the final play that had everyone on the edge of their seats – or rather, off them. A would-be match-winning try for Argentina was denied by the TMO, leaving the Pumas' bench aghast and England's players visibly relieved. The tension in the air was palpable as the scoreboard ticked over to 31-24.
With the football World Cup semi-final result still fresh in their minds – Argentina had pipped England 2-1 on Wednesday – it's fair to say the rugby encounter between the two nations was never going to be a straightforward affair. And so it proved, with this Nations Championship match serving up yet another chapter in the long-standing rivalry between these two sporting superpowers.
The competition is set to resume on 6 November, with the finals scheduled for 28 and 29 November – and we can't wait to see what's in store. Will England be able to keep their noses clean? Can Argentina conjure up another thrilling comeback? The stage is set for some serious showdowns between these two nations.