Argentina 3 England 32 match report: Christian Wade excels on debut in England rout

Inexperienced tourists withstand Argentina's second-half rally after electrifying opening

Pulling power: Christian Wade tries to break a Puma tackle on his England debut in Salta last night (Getty Images)

Christian Wade delivered an eye-catching debut performance as England's young players routed Argentina to give Stuart Lancaster an exciting glimpse of the future.

Wade was at the heart of a thrilling attacking performance in the opening 40 minutes and was involved in the first three tries – scored by David Strettle, Billy Twelvetrees and Ben Morgan – as England took a commanding lead.

Argentina tested England's defensive resolve in the second half and Courtney Lawes was sent to the sin-bin for a breakdown offence but Billy Vunipola wrapped up the victory with a try in the last minute.

Head coach Stuart Lancaster had challenged his young squad to use this Test series as an opportunity to put the pressure on more senior players. Debutant flanker Matt Kvesic helped secure England quick ball while Twelvetrees, Wade and Freddie Burns all impressed.

Burns landed two early penalties from distance as England began to dominate the forward exchanges and took control of scrums and lineouts.

Wade had a hand in all three tries as England surged into a 25-0 lead in 33 minutes but the first try began with hooker Rob Webber securing a turnover on his own line.

Burns cleared, Dave Attwood stole the lineout and the first run of Wade's Test career cut the Pumas open, allowing David Strettle to stretch to score in the corner after being set up by Jonathan Joseph.

Morgan, who was at the heart of everything England did well, made a bullocking charge deep into the Pumas 22 to lay a platform, and Wade executed a delightfully delayed pass to send Twelvetrees over for his second Test try.

Burns hit the post with his first conversion but made no mistake with his second and England continued to punish Pumas mistakes, with Wood and Attwood picking off the Argentina lineout at will.

It was only a matter of time before England engineered a third try and it was scored, fittingly, by Morgan who went over in the corner after being released down the right by the quick hands of Twelvetrees, Joseph and Wade.

Bustos Moyana kicked successfully before half-time but then missed two penalty efforts early in the second period. England were pressed into long periods of defence and responded with an organised and largely disciplined display, barring the sin-binning of Lawes shortly after he had come on for Attwood.

Strettle wasted a golden opportunity to score his second try of the match when he juggled and dropped a pass from Kyle Eastmond, who made an impact after coming on for his Test debut. But England finished strongly with Vunipola marking his own Test debut with a last-minute try after picking up from the back of a marching England scrum.

Argentina

Pen: Bustos Moyana

England

Tries: Strettle, Twelvetrees, Morgan, Vunipola

Cons: Burns (3)

Pens: Burns (2)