England Edge Argentina 3–0 at Half in La Plata Test

England took a 3–0 lead over Argentina into half-time of the opening Test of their two-match series in La Plata on Saturday. The visitors’ defence stifled the Pumas for the first 40 minutes, with disciplined linespeed and goal-line resistance limiting the hosts to no points. Back-rower Tom Willis was prominent at the breakdown and in open play, underpinning England’s early dominance despite a spate of penalties that prevented a wider margin. England began the second half with sustained pressure and sharper discipline, extending their territorial advantage as they looked to convert control into points. The fixture is the first meeting between the sides since last year’s Rugby World Cup bronze-medal match, which England also won. The series concludes next weekend when the teams meet again in Buenos Aires.