England overcame a record-breaking early red card for Tom Curry to open their Rugby World Cup campaign with a sensational 27-10 thumping of Argentina in Pool D.
Banishing the demons of their underwhelming period of summer Tests, an inspired George Ford kicked six penalties and three drop goals at the Orange Velodrome for the 2003 winners, who defended masterfully throughout the 80 minutes until Rodrigo Bruni forced his way over the line seconds before the end.
The officiating team were earning their keep in the opening 10 minutes, as Tom Curry and Santiago Carreras were both sin-binned, while Emiliano Boffelli and Ford notched penalties, although the former also missed a second chance to kick Argentina ahead.
However, there were lingering concerns over Curry's punishment for a head clash with Juan Cruz Mallia, and the flanker - who was making his international comeback in Marseille - was ultimately given a red card, forcing Steve Borthwick's side to navigate 70 minutes with 14 men.
An unwanted page of history was written by Curry, who received England's first-ever World Cup red card, their third overall since August and the fastest-ever by any player at a World Cup, but television match official Marius Jonker saw no need to upgrade Carreras's punishment.
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Borthwick's side then survived a few minutes of pressure, as a Thomas Gallo try was brought back for a knock-on before brilliant defending from Courtney Lawes allowed England to catch their breath.
However, Curry's red card only galvanised the 14 men of England, who established a nine-point advantage through a trio of sublime Ford drop goals in the 27th, 31st and 37th minutes heading into half time - the first two coming from near the halfway line.
A similar pattern played out in the second 45, as a resilient England won penalty after penalty and saw Ford convert another four of them, although Elliot Daly could not replicate his compatriot's success as he missed a 61st-minute attempt.
If there was still any shred of doubt about the result, Ford kicked a sixth penalty between the posts five minutes before the end, but there was a consolation try for Bruni as the Bayonne man spun over the line.
Next up for England is a trip to the Allianz Riviera in Nice to meet Japan in eight days' time, while Argentina have a 13-day break before tackling Samoa in Saint-Etienne.
Ben Knapton
