ENGLAND collapsed to an embarrassing 25-18 defeat against Argentina at Twickenham . . . leaving head coach Andy Robinson humiliated and his job on the line after a humiliating seventh successive defeat.

It was the Pumas' first Twickenham triumph at their fourth attempt, and England were booed off by a 74,000 crowd. The world champions have much soul-searching to do before facing South Africa next Saturday.

On a wet and breezy day, England expected a fearsome challenge in the set-pieces . . .

Argentina's traditional strength . . . but made a confident start, and were ahead inside four minutes when outhalf Charlie Hodgson found his range from 45 metres.

Hodgson, who endured a difficult game against New Zealand last week, became only the fifth English player to pass 250 test points, joining Jonny Wilkinson, Paul Grayson, Rob Andrew and Jon Webb as the home side moved ahead.

It proved a short-lived lead though, as Argentina drew level through a Federico Contepomi strike when England centre Anthony Allen drifted offside deep inside his own 22.

England then lost flanker Lewis Moody to the blood bin . . .

Sale Sharks openside Magnus Lund briefly replaced him . . .

and Argentina missed a chance to go ahead when Contepomi drifted an angled strike wide.

Hodgson though failed to calm England's nerves when he rifled the restart straight into touch, and although Moody returned, the home side continued to struggle in terms of meaningful territory.

Argentina looked a far more threatening outfit with ball in hand, and there was precious little for England fans to cheer as their team maintained recent form by struggling in most departments.

The game was of a poor standard, scarcely keeping its audience interested as both sides blundered when possession came their way.

England's one glimmer of hope was 20-year-old Gloucester centre Anthony Allen, whose evasive nature and creative skills proved a shining light amid the mediocrity.

England found even catching the ball far from straightforward and Argentina were content to play a percentage game, keeping possession around the midfield zone and letting their hosts try to do something with it.

England desperately needed some urgency in their game . . . a sniping Shaun Perry break momentarily threatened Argentina's defence . . . but a missed Hodgson penalty meant the score remained level. Even the crowd appeared to lose interest but they were sparked into life when England conjured a try from nothing.

Wing Paul Sackey collected possession 45 metres out and although attacking opportunities appeared restricted, he set off on a weaving run that saw him break three tackles for an outstanding debut try.

Hodgson added the extras as England moved 10-3 ahead, but a short-range penalty by substitute Federico Todeschini after Pat Sanderson infringed hauled the Pumas to within four points.

Argentina had another penalty chance on the stroke of half-time which Todeschini accepted, cutting the gap to 10-9.

England lost the initiative . . .

and their slender lead . . . within three minutes of the restart.

Moody infringed by entering a ruck from the wrong side, and although the resulting penalty presented a fiendishly difficult angle, Todeschini comfortably bisected the posts for a 12-10 advantage.

Robinson needed to inject some vitality into a desperately poor display, and two substitutions inside four minutes suggested he was losing patience.

Gloucester scrum-half Peter Richards took over from Perry, then Wasps lock Tom Palmer replaced Danny Grewcock, and there were cheers when an out-of-sorts Hodgson made way for Flood.

Hodgson once again had failed to produce the goods, and there must be long-term questions about his ability to dominate games at the highest level. Flood though, was soon in all sorts of strife as his midfield pass was intercepted by Todeschini, who sprinted 60 metres for a try that he also converted.

Robinson shook his head in the stands, but there was no hiding place as Argentina threatened an upset of monumental proportions.

Todeschini's try was Argentina's first at Twickenham on their fourth visit, and it galvanised England into action, with the visitors conceding a penalty that Flood slotted.

So much of England's play though, was error-strewn and clueless, and it took a rare moment of magic to lift the crowd as full-back Iain Balshaw scored after an arcing 60-metre run created by Richards's brilliant opportunism.

It was a superb effort from the Gloucester star, but Flood's conversion drifted wide and Argentina still led, moving into the final quarter.

England were growing increasingly frantic, but Argentina also showed nerves as they edged towards the final whistle.

But England number eight Pat Sanderson conceded a penalty 12 minutes from time that Todeschini landed for a 2218 advantage.

Todeschini then kicked another penalty, and England found themselves a converted try from salvaging a draw.

England, inevitably, went for broke during the closing moments, but it was all to no avail, and Argentina were home and dry and celebrating a famous win.

ENGLAND I Balshaw; P Sackey , J Noon , A Allen, B Cohen; C Hodgson, S Perry; P Freshwater, G Chuter, J White, D Grewcock, B Kay, M Corry, L Moody, P Sanderson Subs L Mears, S Turner, T Palmer, M Lund, P Richards, T Flood, J Lewsey ARGENTINA J-M Hernandez; J Nunez Piossek, M Avramovic, G Tiesi, P Gomez Cora;

F Contepomi, A Pichot; M Ayerza, M Ledesma, O Hasan, I Fernandez-Lobbe, P Albacete, J Fernandez-Lobbe, J Leguizamonn, G Longo Subs A Vernet, M Scelzo, E Lozada, M Schusterman, N Fernandez-Miranda, F Todeschini, H Agulla Referee K Deaker (New Zealand)