Argentina 24-31 England - Nations Championship result as Steve Borthwick's side hold on for victory with 13 men

England held on for a dramatic 31-24 over Argentina in an ill-tempered Nations Championship battle in Santiago del Estero.

Ben Earl scored twice for Steve Borthwick's side, who were then pegged back to 19-17 from 19-3 up, before late tries from Marcus Smith and Immanuel Feyi-Waboso eventually got them over the line.

England made a quick start, taking the lead after just four minutes through Tommy Freeman, before an Earl brace moved them 16 points to the good at half-time.

Argentina came roaring out of the blocks in the second half though. Mateo Carreras gave them hope and a penalty try - awarded after Alex Coles' deliberate knock-on - left them only trailing 19-17, with a two-player advantage.

However, England regained their discipline and composure after Joaquin Oviedo was sent to the sin bin. A neatly worked move saw Smith go over in the corner, before Feyi-Waboso gave them breathing space again at 31-17.

The visitors were reduced to 13 men once again when Emmanuel Iyogun and Henry Pollock were both shown yellow, and Justo Piccardo charged into the gaping hole in the defence to set up a grandstand finish.

Argentina thought they could potentially snatch a draw when Bautista Delguy stretched over with the final action, only to be denied following a TMO review, and England held on for a second win in three games.

To rub even more salt into English wounds, Argentina emerged for this game donning a replica kit worn by Diego Maradona and co during THAT 1986 World Cup quarter-final.

However, it ultimately failed to serve as a positive omen for the Pumas.

Urged on by their raucous supporters, Argentina began the second half brightly to cut their 16-point gap to just two.

Once they had a player in the bin, though, it encouraged England to progress up the field, and go 14 points to the good.

The hosts set up a grandstand finish, but the merest of fractions was to deny them a last-gasp conversion to attempt to potentially salvage a draw.

English fans were seeking revenge following the football team's World Cup semi-final heartbreak at the hands of Argentina on Wednesday.

It looked like they would do so in commanding fashion at 19-3 up at half-time.

However, the visitors were pegged back by the buoyant hosts after the break, seeing their lead reduced to just two points.

Nevertheless, Steve Borthwick's side capitalised on a couple of disciplinary lapses from Argentina to restore breathing space in the contest.

They just about survived a last-gasp scare, too, to make it two wins from three at the start of this inaugural Nations Championship.

Argentina 24-31 England

It's a superb late surge by the hosts!

They do brilliantly to keep the play alive and maintain possession as the clock goes red.

It culminates in Delguy grounding the ball near the corner, only for the try to be ruled out following a lengthy TMO review.

Argentina are furious, but England won't care in the slightest. They've just about got over the line!

Late hope for the hosts!

Piccardo surges into the gaping hole in the England defence to touch down under the posts.

Albornoz scores a quick drop goal in a bid to save as much time as possible.

But is it too little, too late?

After a lengthy spell of treatment, the debutant does leave the pitch on a stretcher, accompanied by an oxygen mask.

It doesn't seem too promising for him, but we wish him a speedy recovery.

Minutes into his Test debut for England, Janse van Rensburg stays down following a nasty collision.

He's receiving medical attention, and it looks like he'll leave the field on a stretcher.

The referee puffs out his cheeks, possibly at the thought of all the admin he'll have to do after this game!

Another player goes into the bin, with Iyogun penalised for a deliberate offside on his debut.

England will finish with 13 men...

Their football team has produced plenty of those in North America in recent weeks!

Can their rugby side follow suit with a numerical advantage in these last few minutes?

The noise levels rise once more, as Pollock is sent to the bin.

The replacement committed the last of a series of England offsides, as they tried to thwart Argentina at the line.

England have that two-score cushion once more!

The stadium is silenced once again, with that buoyant home support losing all of its momentum.

This time, Feyi-Waboso works his way over, though Fin Smith can't quite convert.

They've been battered and bruised during this second half.

However, the visitors have capitalised as soon as the opportunity has presented itself.

Argentina are now down to 13 men!

Santiago Carreras was deemed to have deliberately attempted to knock on prior to Marcus Smith touching down.

He joins Oviedo in the bin, so England now have the extra man!

No longer playing with a numerical disadvantage, England make the most of it to claim the bonus point!

Pollock's initial drive helps the visitors gain valuable territory.

Their pressure eventually leads to the ball getting fed out to the right, where Marcus Smith touches down before Fin Smith converts.

TMO is called into action again - this time, to look at Oviedo's challenge on Pepper.

It's deemed a dangerous cleanout by the Argentina number eight, who's shown a yellow card.

The hosts are now down to 14 - the same as England, as Van Poortvliet returns from the bin.

The boos echo around the stadium, which can only mean one thing...

Pollock is introduced by Borthwick in a bid to rally the visitors, who face a long wait until they're back to full-strength.

Just two points in it, and England are now two men down!

With Van Poortvliet already in the sin bin, he's joined by Coles.

The lock is deemed to have deliberately knocked on while intercepting Albornoz's lay-off to Matera on the try line.

England are down to 13 men...