England v Argentina LIVE: Result and reaction from Rugby World Cup 2023 as England win despite red card

After months of toil and trouble, it took a Marseille cauldron for England to find their magic brew. It may not prove the elixir of Rugby World Cup life but on a night that threatened disaster after Tom Curry’s third-minute sending off at a bubbling Stade Velodrome, England came to the boil.

The win was an odd concoction, a convincing final margin even with Argentina scoring the encounter’s only try two minutes from time. It was a night for leaders, and England’s stood up. Courtney Lawes led the defensive effort, Manu Tuilagi and Maro Itoje were back to their best. But it was George Ford, playing the pragmatist, who took control to kick England to a faith-restoring victory.

Ford’s 27 points came from nine strikes of his right boot, three drop goals, six from the tee. English fly halves tend to enjoy the World Cup stage, and Ford’s performance here was a display of command, correctness and clarity. Not all ills are cured, clearly, but how England needed this sort of showing, their fire finally burning in the south of France heat.

Steve Borthwick gives his reaction after the game: “I enjoy working with this group of players. I think they’re a fantastic group and I’m really pleased for them tonight. I’m also really pleased for the supporters. The team really loves the supporters and we really benefited from how they got behind us tonight.

“We’ll have a good look at the [Tom Curry] incident. It would be wrong for me to start commenting on the incident.

“There was a feeling I had from the players that they feel they have been written off a little bit too early. They’re a really quality group of players.

“Our focus is going to go to Japan. That’s our next opponent and that’s where our attention will be. We’ll enjoy tonight - the players deserve to enjoy tonight - but very quickly our focus will go to Japan next Sunday.”

Player of the match George Ford, speaking to ITV: “The drop-goals are always planned, it is a great weapon for us, especially when the ball is a bit greasy tonight.

“We went down a man early on and had to come away from as many points when we had field position. The boys up front were incredible to get us into that field position.

“We have had a bit of a rocky build-up to this World Cup but I think in the last 10 days there has been a different feeling to the place. It is only game one and we will look to build next week.

“We want to keep improving.”

There’s no surprise who was given the player of the match award. Of course it went to George Ford who scored all 27 of England’s points as they eased to victory over Argentina.

It’s all over in Marseille! England earn their victory with a superb defensive performance and an exceptional kicking game from George Ford.

Losing Tom Curry in the third minute couldn’t have sent them into a spiral but it did the opposite. Steve Borthwick’s men were outstanding and they open their World Cup campaign with a win.

England give up a try, right at the end of the match. Defending with a man down finally takes its toll as the Pumas get their act together to work the ball over the line past a sprawling Maro Itoje.

The conversion goes over too but it won’t help Argentina.

Marcus Smith is on for his first taste of World Cup action with George Ford earning a wonderful round of applause as he departs. Ford has led Steve Borthwick’s men to victory in Marseille.

They’re going to be top of Pool D at the end of the night.

George Ford collects his 27th point of the evening for England. There’s five minutes of the match to play and the games it pretty much done.

Argentina need to score four times now.