Armitage grabs brace in Pumas defeat

Winger Matt Banahan was named man of the match after marking his Test debut with a try and Andy Goode booted 22 points as England moved above the Pumas to fifth in the world rankings.

England will be delighted to have kept Argentina tryless, although fly-half Juan Martin Hernandez was quick to punish any indiscretion and his 15 points kept the Pumas in touch.

Argentina were strengthened by the availability of their three-strong Stade Francais contingent and Hernandez, the masterful fly-half, stroked them into the lead after 70 seconds with a nonchalant drop-goal.

Steffon Armitage and James Haskell competed well on the floor and Goode's tactical kicking took the sting out of Argentina's early thrust and he edged England 9-3 ahead with a two simple penalties and a long-range drop-goal.

When England did piece together a slick attack it resulted in the opening try, with Banahan powering onto Armitage's grubber kick and through two defenders to touch down under the posts.

Powerful surges from Nick Easter and Dylan Hartley set the platform for Goode to strike his second drop-goal of the half and secure England a 19-9 half-time lead.

Goode extended England's lead with another penalty shortly after the restart and Hernandez responded with two of his own for Argentina. The Old Trafford crowd grew increasingly impatient by England's aerial approach, greeting Steve Borthwick's decision to go for the posts with boos, but they soon got what they wanted with a try for Armitage after Danny Care had launched a midfield break.

Care's pass to Mark Cueto was poor but the England wing showed football skills suitable for the occasion by volleying the ball back infield and Armitage pounced for the second try.

Argentina full-back Horacio Agula was sin-binned for a professional foul but England failed to take advantage - not only because Goode missed a simple penalty but because Julian White soon followed him to the bin - but England rounded off the victory with a scintillating try from Armitage, who raced through the gears to chase down another volley from Cueto.