Andy Robinson's job as England head coach was on the line after Argentina recorded a famous 25-18 victory at Twickenham.
The final whistle was greeted with sustained booing after Argentinian replacement Federico Todeschini had scored 22 points, including his nation's first try at rugby HQ, as England slumped to their seventh successive defeat.
It equalled the worst run in England's history and there was a mood of resignation and embarrassment among the disappointed crowd of 74,027 on a raw afternoon at a lifeless Twickenham.
Robinson has won eight and lost 12 of his 20 internationals since taking charge two years ago and with the World Cup less than 12 months away his future must be in serious doubt.
His side lacked confidence and organisation against a spirited Argentinian team, who twirled their jerseys around their heads and hugged each other in euphoric celebration after recording their first victory at Twickenham.
The thought had been that England had hit rock bottom with a record home defeat against New Zealand last weekend. But this was worse, much worse, an error-strewn, inept performance by England which only demonstrated how far they have fallen since lifting the Webb Ellis trophy back in 2003.
England fly-half Charlie Hodgson had the scoreboard ticking as early as the fourth minute with a penalty which took him past 250 points for his country.
But anyone who thought that would be the start of an England points cruise would have been mistaken.
Fly-half Felipe Contepomi quickly put Argentina level after Anthony Allen had drifted offside.
England's early work lacked conviction even against a side which had not played since July and which exhibited more than the odd flake of rust.
Danny Grewcock and Ben Kay dominated the line-outs but the errors which were evident against the All Blacks continued to mar England's game.
Cohen spilled the ball when seemingly through, so did prop Perry Freshwater after a sweeping move which should have produced a touchdown.
The breakthrough finally came after 32 frustrating minutes but it was worth waiting for.
A swift passing move saw the ball reach Sackey who shimmied and swerved around three defenders before speeding to the line for his first England touchdown.
That brought a smile to Robinson's face but, in truth, there was not much to commend England's first 40 minutes, especially when ill-discipline allowed Todeschini, who had come on for Gonzalo Tiesi, to slot over two penalties which saw England clinging to a slender 10-9 advantage at half-time.
Too many handling errors. Not enough cohesion.
It got worse straight after the interval when Lewis Moody infringed at a maul and Todeschini landed his third penalty from the touchline to give Argentina the lead.
Robinson wore a worried frown. And well he might have because the England challenge was pedestrian, the drive and fire such as Martin Johnson and Richard Hill once gave them a distant memory.
Robinson threw on Gloucester scrum-half Peter Richards for Shaun Perry and Wasps Tom Palmer for Grewcock in a bid to shake things up.
But the most significant substitution came in the 52nd minute when Newcastle's Toby Flood came on for his debut at the expense of Hodgson.
The reaction of the Twickenham crowd - loud cheers greeting Hodgson's removal - said it all.
Soon after Flood must have wished he had stayed on the bench, his first pass being intercepted by Todeschini who sprinted away for a breakaway try.
Todeschini added the conversion and suddenly Argentina led 19-10.
At last England were stunned into life.
Flood landed a penalty as England upped the tempo and then Balshaw did what England have been wanting him to do for years.
He picked up the ball in his own half and scythed his way through the Argentinian defence to score a fabulous touchdown. The conversion would have put England ahead but Flood pulled his kick wide of the posts.
A Todeschini penalty after Pat Sanderson had infringed edged Argentina four points ahead. And while England desperately threw themselves at the Argentina line another Todeschini penalty saw the visitors safely home.
It was no more than they deserved. For England and Robinson the future has never been gloomier.
