After a disappointing run of results leading into the 2023 Rugby World Cup, England might have preferred a slightly easier start to the tournament than a showdown with Argentina in Marseille on Saturday.
It’s a battle between the two teams who are favourites to top Pool D, and this weekend’s showdown at the Stade Velodrome will go a long way to determining who faces the runner-up of Pool C in the quarter-finals.
- Argentina to win
- Over 49.5 total points
- Jamie George to score a try
WATCH IN THE ZONE - JASON ROBINSON
Pumas Eyeing Up Back-To-Back Wins
Having secured a 30-29 victory over England in their last meeting at Twickenham in the autumn, Argentina know what it takes to overcome the Red Rose.
That loss to the Pumas was one of the final nails in the coffin of former England boss Eddie Jones before he was eventually sacked and replaced by Steve Borthwick.
Borthwick has endured a tough start to life in the England hot seat, with his tenure starting with a home Calcutta Cup defeat at the hands of Scotland.
And just two wins in the 2023 Six Nations, which also included heavy defeats to France and Ireland, was followed by a shock loss to Wales in Cardiff in England's first World Cup warm-up.
England did bounce back to edge out the Welsh at Twickenham a week later, but the good mood and fist-pumping was short-lived as Borthwick’s side then suffered defeats to Ireland and Fiji.
Those defeats also saw red cards and eventual suspensions for skipper Owen Farrell and specialist No.8 Billy Vunipola, who will be sorely missed at the Stade Velodrome.
Issues in defence have been a major concern since Jones’s final days at the helm and Argentina have the power up front and attacking threats out wise to cause England real problems in Marseille.
Argentina will be battle-hardened after a bruising, if truncated, Rugby Championship campaign and the Pumas have the quality to make it back-to-back wins over England.
Points On The Cards In Marseille
Matches between these sides have often been entertaining affairs, especially since Argentina took up their place in the Rugby Championship in 2011.
In the last five Test matches between these nations there have been 279 points scored at an average of 55.8 points per match.
There were 59 points in last year's clash at Twickenham, so backing over 49.5 points for this weekend’s encounter in Marseille might well be the way to go, especially considering the number of points England have been conceding of late.
In their last six matches England have conceded a total of 178 points at an average of just under 30 per game.
George Can Add To Try Tally
With 13 tries to his name in 46 Test starts, England hooker Jamie George has an impressive tryscoring return at international level.
While England have had their problems in recent times, they still have a pack filled with talent.
The set-piece will be an area England must look to dominate and their rolling maul from the lineout is a powerful weapon.
George is the man to throw in at the lineout and scoot around the back, before getting the ball and going for the big push close to the line.
In what is set to be a high-scoring contest, Saracens star George could benefit from England’s strong maul game and add to his 13 international tries this weekend in Marseille.
England vs Argentina Teams
England: 15 Freddie Steward, 14 Jonny May, 13 Joe Marchant, 12 Manu Tuilagi, 11 Elliot Daly, 10 George Ford, 9 Alex Mitchell, 8 Ben Earl, 7 Tom Curry, 6 Courtney Lawes (c), 5 Ollie Chessum, 4 Maro Itoje, 3 Dan Cole, 2 Jamie George, 1 Ellis Genge
Bench: 16 Theo Dan, 17 Joe Marler, 18 Will Stuart, 19 George Martin, 20 Lewis Ludlam, 21 Danny Care, 22 Marcus Smith, 23 Ollie Lawrence
Argentina: 15 Juan Cruz Mallia, 14 Emiliano Boffelli, 13 Lucio Cinti, 12 Santiago Chocobares, 11 Mateo Carreras, 10 Santiago Carreras, 9 Gonzalo Bertranou, 8 Juan Martin Gonzalez, 7 Marcos Kremer, 6 Pablo Matera, 5 Tomas Lavanini, 4 Matias Alemanno, 3 Francisco Gomez Kodela, 2 Julian Montoya (c), 1 Thomas Gallo
Bench: 16 Agustin Creevy, 17 Joel Sclavi, 18 Eduardo Bello, 19 Guido Petti, 20 Pedro Rubiolo, 21 Rodrigo Bruni, 22 Lautaro Bazan Velez, 23 Matias Moroni
