ENGLAND survived a major scare to open their Rugby World Cup with an unimpressive, but priceless victory over Argentina in Dunedin.

Ben Youngs came off the bench to score the only try of the match after 68 minutes and Jonny Wilkinson's conversion nudged England into the lead for the first time.

But England's discipline was poor. They were second best for much of a brutal Test match and they were heavily penalised by referee Bryce Lawrence.

Had the Pumas not missed a total of six penalty shots and a drop-goal they could have been out of touch by half-time instead of just 6-3 up.

Argentina's points came from two Martin Rodriguez penalties and one from Felipe Contepomi, the influential fly-half who was forced off injured in a ferocious first half.

Wilkinson was inexplicably poor in front of goal, sending five penalty shots wide - four of them in the second half as England struggled to find a way back into the game.

But it was Youngs, sent on shortly after half-time for Richard Wigglesworth, who provided England's get out of jail free card.

The Leicester scrum-half, making his first appearance since undergoing knee surgery in the summer, scampered over from the base of a ruck to seal the win.