England 27-10 Argentina: George Ford stars to kick off World Cup campaign in style despite Tom Curry red

George Ford scored a hat-trick of drop goals as he inspired 14-man England to a titanic 27-10 win over Argentina in their Rugby World Cup opener despite Tom Curry’s early red card.

There was pressure on Steve Borthwick’s side to get off to a strong start in Pool D after a poor run of form that culminated with defeats to Ireland and Fiji and a two-match ban for captain Owen Farrell in their final warm-up games.

England could hardly have got off to a worse start, as flanker Curry, returning for the first time since May, was sin-binned after three minutes for a high tackle that left Argentina full-back Juan Cruz Mallia unable to continue.

Emiliano Boffelli and Ford traded penalties either side of a yellow for Santiago Carreras for a late tackle that levelled up the numbers, but things got worse for England when Curry’s yellow was upgraded to a red by the new TMO ‘bunker’ review system.

Just as things threatened to spiral out of control, Ford stepped up. The fly-half landed a long-range drop goal to edge his side in front and English roars in the Velodrome grew louder and louder as he notched a second and a third to complete a remarkable hat-trick and send his side in at the break with a nine-point lead.

England only improved in the second half as their forwards dominated in the scrum and the breakdown to win a series of penalties that stretched their lead to 21 points going into the final 15 minutes, courtesy of Ford’s right boot.

When Argentina mustered a rare attack, it was repelled by the English defence with a turnover on the try line in a moment that summed up the second half, and Ford had time to add another three points to his tally before being replaced for the final few minutes.

The Pumas eventually had something to celebrate when Rodrigo Bruni barrelled over the line inside the final minute, but it was far too little and far too late.

There is no doubt that the openside is one of England’s finest operators, but some eyebrows were raised when he was thrust straight back into the starting side despite not playing a minute since sustaining an ankle injury a month ago.

Curry spent only three minutes on the pitch before clashing heads with Mallia in a moment that ended his involvement. Ford and his team-mates responded superbly with 14 men, but the flanker made their jobs harder than they could have been.

England’s fly-half put in a statement performance, kicking all 27 of his side’s points, including three drop goals, to seize control of the game when his team needed him.

It now leaves Borthwick with a very interesting decision to make. Farrell still has another match of his ban to sit out against Japan, but will the captain come back in at 10 on his return, or has Ford earned that shirt and forced a re-think?

ENGLAND: Steward 7; May 6, Marchant 7, Tuilagi 7, Daly 6; Ford 9, Mitchell 7; Genge 6, George 8, Cole 7, Itoje 8, Chessum 7; Lawes 8, Curry 2, Earl 8

Subs: Dan n/a, Marler 6, Stuart 6, Martin 6, Ludlam 6, Care 6, Smith n/a, Lawrence 6

ARGENTINA: Mallia 6; Boffelli 6, Cinti 6, Chocobares 6, M. Carreras 5; S. Carreras 5, Bertranou 5; Gallo 6, Montoya 6, Kodela 6; Alemanno 6, Lavanini 6; Matera 6, Kremer 7, Gonzalez 5

Subs: Creevy 6, Sclavi 5, Bello 6, Petti 5, Rubiolo 6, Bruni 7, Velez 6, Moroni 6

3’ CURRY SIN BINNED! – There is head-to-head contact as Curry comes in to tackle Mallia when he lands after taking a high ball. The full-back is forced off bleeding. The officials take a good look at it and that’s a yellow card for Curry and 10 minutes in the sin bin for the England flanker – a nightmare start.

9’ YELLOW CARD FOR CARRERAS – The Pumas fly-half was late as he tried to charge down a kick from Ford, and now we’re level at 14 v 14.

11’ CURRY SHOWN RED! – Wow! Before play restarts, the bunker tells referee Raynal to upgrade Curry’s yellow card to a red! England are up against it here – they only had 15 players for the first two minutes.

28′ DROP GOAL! ENGLAND 6-3 ARGENTINA – Ford gets into the pocket and sticks a drop goal through the posts to put the depleted English in front.

31′ DROP GOAL! ENGLAND 9-3 ARGENTINA – Unbelievable! Ford drops to the halfway line for another drop goal attempt and nails it! The fly-half’s boot is England’s saviour at the moment.

37’ DROP GOAL! ENGLAND 12-3 ARGENTINA – England win a penalty after Steward is taken out in the air, and kick into the Pumas 22. Their tails are up at the moment. The line-out is claimed and England work it infield from where – you guessed it – the ball is fired to Ford to complete a hat-trick of drop goals! This one from much closer range.

79’ TRY! ENGLAND 27-10 ARGENTINA – The Pumas finish with a flourish! Bruni barrels over the line and his try is converted to at least make the scoreboard look slightly better.

• Tom Curry’s third minute red card was the earliest for any player in men’s Rugby World Cup history and England’s first at the tournament overall.
• George Ford was the fourth player to score three drop goals in a Rugby World Cup match along with Jonny Wilkinson (2003), Juan Martin Hernandez (2007) and Theuns Kotze (2011), but two shy of the record holder for the most in one game, Jannie De Beer in 1999 with five.