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George Ford masterminded a remarkable England victory forged in adversity after Argentina were toppled 27-10 in their World Cup opener despite Tom Curry being sent off in the third minute.<\/p>\n
Ford led England out of a crisis created by Curry\u2019s dangerous challenge on Juan Cruz Mallia that resulted in the Sale flanker\u2019s yellow card being upgraded to red by the bunker review system.<\/p>\n
Taking command, Ford landed three drop-goals and six penalties as Argentina were kicked into oblivion on a warm night at the Stade Velodrome in what was one of the nation\u2019s greatest acts of defiance on a rugby field.<\/p>\n
While the outstanding Sale fly-half was busy steering England around the pitch and keeping the scoreboard ticking over, his team-mates fought themselves to a standstill with Ben Earl and Courtney Lawes magnificent.<\/p>\n
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It was an ugly spectacle with neither side functioning in attack, but Steve Borthwick\u2019s men showed the character needed to place one foot in the quarter-finals by taking control of Pool D at the expense of their greatest rivals.<\/p>\n
A giant stride forward was taken in plugging their leaky defence, but discipline remains a major concern, with Curry set to join Owen Farrell and Billy Vunipola in being banned for periods of the World Cup.<\/p>\n
England will argue that Curry was unfortunate to become the country\u2019s first red card at a World Cup \u2013 and the fastest in the tournament\u2019s history \u2013 despite the clash of heads that came as a result of his tackle.<\/p>\n
And when Santiago Carreras was punished with only a sin-binning for clattering late into Ford early on, they had additional cause for grievance.<\/p>\n
Once the initial drama of Curry\u2019s dismissal had subsided, England rolled up their sleeves to withstand a battering on their line by Argentina\u2019s pack, winning a penalty that enabled them to clear their lines.<\/p>\n
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They have often delivered a spirited response when down on numbers and so it was proving in Marseille as a methodical drive downfield ended with Ford landing a drop-goal.<\/p>\n
Ford repeated the trick but this time from the halfway line as a monster kick sailed between the uprights with distance to spare.<\/p>\n
The glaring deficiencies in England\u2019s attack were apparent as they butchered a four-on-two overlap, but with Ford landing drop-goals at will \u2013 he coolly added a third from short range \u2013 it did not seem to matter.<\/p>\n
Even with Curry sat watching in the stand they built a 12-3 lead, helped by rattled opponents who were also struggling with the ball in hand.<\/p>\n
The intensity was cranked up for the second half, forcing a breakdown penalty that Ford inevitably steered between the uprights, while in reply the Pumas squirted the ball forward to end a rare attack.<\/p>\n
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Manu Tuilagi cut Santiago Chocobares in half with a wince-inducing tackle and with Ford on target from the kicking tee twice in quick succession, it was starting to look bleak for Argentina.<\/p>\n
Over went the fifth and then sixth penalties and although the shambolic Pumas finally crossed through Rodrigo Bruni in the closing moments, their fate was already sealed.<\/p>\n