England limp past Pumas

England kick-started their autumn international series with an unconvincing 16-9 victory over Argentina at Twickenham.

Bath wing Matt Banahan was the England saviour, his 70th minute try proving the difference over the course of a truly forgettable 80 minutes of rugby.

England's performance was summed up by an uncharacteristically out-of-sorts kicking performance from Jonny Wilkinson, however the No.10 did contribute the remaining 11 points with the boot.

The near sell-out crowd voiced their displeasure at half-time, the England players booed off the field with the teams deadlocked at 9-9.

Argentina, who had only been together for a week ahead of the match, had chances themselves to win the match, however Martin Rodriguez missed two penalties before Banahan struck late.

Monye exposed

England manager Martin Johnson made four changes to the spine of the team that crashed to Australia 18-9 last weekend.

London Irish scrum-half Paul Hodgson was handed his first Test start, James Haskell returned at number eight, Dylan Hartley took over as hooker while Bath veteran Duncan Bell started his first Test since 2005.

Played out in blustery conditions, the opening exchanges were dominated by hopeful kicking and a string of unforced errors.

Stand-in full-back Ugo Monye was exposed under the high ball on numerous occasions, and such was the concern from the England management, the Quins flyer was restored to his more familiar wing berth after half-time.

Wilkinson rather predictably opened the scoring, the Toulon star planting over a long-distance drop-goal after a superb charge-down from Lewis Moody had given England possession.

But the lead did not last long, Tim Payne was guilty of not binding properly and makeshift kicker Rodriguez levelled matters in front of the posts.

Rampaging

Wilkinson and Rodriguez exchanged further penalties shortly after, and the Pumas threatened to take a slender 9-6 lead into the break when the Argentina kicker slotted over his third penalty following another Monye drop.

However, more indiscipline, this time from Argentina, allowed Wilkinson to level the scores on the stroke of half-time.

After leaving the field to a chorus of boos, England continued to concede penalties in kickable positions after the break but Rodriguez was unable to capitalise.

Wilkinson was also having problems with his radar and a huge sigh of relief could be heard all around Twickenham when Banahan struck with just 10 minutes remaining.

Haskell sparked the move with a midfield break, captain Steve Borthwick off-loaded and the ball was spread wide to Moody who was sent rampaging down the right.

The England flanker, who was later named man of the match, delayed his pass to perfection to allow Banahan the simple task of touching down right behind the posts.

Wilkinson's conversion extended the lead to 16-9 and although Argentina piled the pressure on at the death in search of the draw, England defended gallantly to hold on.