Contepomi’s walk‑out highlights England’s post‑match celebrations

Argentina head coach Felipe Contepomi walked out of the post‑match press conference in Santiago del Estero after the television match official ruled out a late Argentine try, leaving the Nations Championship score at England 31‑24 and igniting a dispute over England’s celebrations.

The television match official denied Argentina a potential try in the closing stages, meaning the score remained England 31, Argentina 24. The decision left the Nations Championship result in England’s favour.

England had built a 19‑3 advantage by half‑time, establishing a comfortable cushion. The Argentine side wore replicas of the 1986 World Cup kit after the break.

Argentina rallied in the second half, narrowing the gap and reducing the deficit before the final whistle. Their late surge, however, fell short of overturning the result.

Four England players were booked after the interval, prompting former scrum‑half Matt Dawson to describe their discipline as “verging on comical”. The penalties underscored the tense atmosphere of the match.

Felipe Contepomi asked an England representative to stop the music and celebrations, but the request was ignored, leading him to leave the press conference. He said the noise showed a “lack of respect” for the Argentine side.

Despite the Nations Championship loss, Argentina later defeated England 2‑1 in the football World Cup semi‑finals on Wednesday, highlighting their resilience across codes. England currently sit third in the northern‑hemisphere group, with the competition resuming on 6 November and the finals set for 28 and 29 November, where the champion will be decided.