Preview: England vs Argentina
Everything you need to know ahead of England's opening Autumn Nations Series fixture against Argentina.
Eddie Jones' England will be aiming to kick off their Autumn Nations Series with a win as they welcome Los Pumas to Twickenham Stadium.
| When? | Sunday 6 November |
| Where? | Twickenham Stadium |
| Kick off? | 14:15 |
Owen Farrell captains the side from inside centre, lining up alongside the returning Manu Tuilagi.
Jack Nowell (right wing) and Ellis Genge (loose-head prop) have been named vice captains. Joe Cokanasiga and Freddie Steward make up the back three while Luke Cowan-Dickie and Kyle Sinckler are named in the front row.
Alex Coles will make his international debut in the starting lock pairing as he packs down alongside Jonny Hill. Maro Itoje, Tom Curry and Billy Vunipola form the back row.
Ben Youngs is set to make his 118th Test match appearance at scrum half while Marcus Smith starts at fly half.
Named on the bench, David Ribbans could make his international debut. Jack Singleton, Mako Vunipola, Joe Heyes, Sam Simmonds, Jack Willis, Jack van Poortvliet and Henry Slade are also finishers.
VIEWS FROM CAMP
Eddie Jones: "The whole squad is looking forward to these next four matches. We've got a dress rehearsal for the World Cup so we want to find out more about our opposition than they find out about us.
"The squad's preparation has been first class, I can't tell you how pleased I am with the players' attitude, focus, attention to detail and determination to get better. They've been exceptionally led by Ellis and Jack in the first week, and now Owen has come back and taken over the captaincy. We feel that the leadership team over the last few weeks has really moved forward and we're delighted with the opportunity to play against such a quality side.
"Owen's getting close to 100 caps, he's the third highest points scorer in Test rugby so he's a significant player for us. Having coached for a while at the top level I don't think I've ever come across a player with more competitive spirit than him. He's got an unbelievable desire to win and leads from the front.
Joe Cokanasiga: "I'm really happy to be in the squad, I'm feeling a lot more confident now. The feedback I got over the summer was that I need to take my opportunities. One thing for me was my hunger for the ball and I've brought that into this season with my club and it's helped change my mindset completely.
"We're expecting a lot of passion from Argentina like we've seen before, a lot of physicality but for us it's not about matching them, but being above that. For me I need to make an impact with my first carries and set the tone.
"Having Owen back gives the team a lot of confidence, he brings a lot of experience and with Faz he brings a lot of detail and clarity. He's also very approachable, very easy to talk to and he's always up for helping the other boys."
TEAMS
England
15. Freddie Steward, 14. Jack Nowell (VC) 13. Manu Tuilagi, 12. Owen Farrell (C), 11.Joe Cokanasiga, 10. Marcus Smith, 9. Ben Youngs, 1. Ellis Genge (VC), 2. Luke Cowan-Dickie, 3. Kyle Sinckler, 4. Alex Coles, 5. Jonny Hill, 6. Maro Itoje, 7. Tom Curry, 8. Billy Vunipola.
Finishers
16. Jack Singleton, 17. Mako Vunipola, 18. Joe Heyes, 19. David Ribbans, 20. Sam Simmonds, 21. Jack Willis 22. Jack van Poortlviet, 23. Henry Slade.
Argentina
15. Juan Cruz Mallia, 14. Mateo Carreras, 13. Matias Moroni, 12. Jeronimo de la Fuenta, 11. Emiliano Boffelli, 10. Santiago Carreras, 9. Gonzalo Bertranou, 1. Thomas Gallo, 2. Julian Montoya (C), 3. Francisco Gomez Kodela 4. Matias Alemanno, 5. Tomas Lavanini, 6. Juan Martin Gonzalez, 7. Marcos Kremer, 8. Pablo Matera.
Replacements
16. Ignacio Ruiz, 17. Nahuel Tetaz Chaparro, 18. Eduardo Bello, 19. Lucas Paulos, 20. Facundo Isa, 21. Eliseo Morales, 22. Tomas Albornoz, 23. Matias Orlando.
PREVIOUS ENCOUNTERS
2019 England 39-10 Argentina
2017 England 21-8 Argentina
2017 Argentina 25-35 England
2017 Argentina 34-38 England
2016 England 27-14 Argentina
KEY STATS
England have won each of their last 10 Test matches against Argentina, having not lost to the Pumas since June 2009.
England have lost just two of their last 23 Test matches on home soil.
Argentina had the highest lineout success rate of any side in The Rugby Championship this year (88%).
England conceded fewer turnovers than any other side in this year’s Six Nations (42) while they also won more penalties than any other side in the Championship (62).
Related topics
- Attack
- T - Tries
- M - Metres carried
- C - Carries
- DB - Defenders beaten
- CB - Clean breaks
- P - Passes
- O - Offloads
- TC - Turnovers conceded
- TA - Try assists
- PTS - Points
- Defence
- Tackles - Tackles
- MT - Missed tackles
- TW - Turnovers won
- Kicking
- K - Kicks in play
- C - Conversions
- PG - Penalty goals
- DG - Drop goals
- Set plays
- TW - Throws won
- LW - Lineouts won
- LS - Lineout steals
- Discipline
- PC - Penalties conceded
- RC - Red cards
- YC - Yellow cards
England beaten by Argentina in Autumn Nations Series opener
England were beaten 30-29 by Argentina in their Autumn Nations Series opener at Twickenham.
Despite two tries and 19 points from the boot of Owen Farrell, it was not enough to overcome an inspired Argentine side, who recorded their first win over England since 2009.
The sides traded penalty kicks inside the opening 20 minutes, with Argentina's Emiliano Boffelli slotting two against Owen Farrell's solo effort.
Joe Cokanasiga scored England's first try after 25 minutes, from a five metre attacking scrum, the Bath wing was hit by Ben Youngs on a short line and powered over from close range. Farrell's extras opened up a four point lead.
With not much attacking prowess on display, taking advantage of kicking opportunities became paramount, as Boffelli and Farrell traded another pair of penalties with half time approaching - making it 16-12 at the break.
Half time stats favoured the hosts, as Eddie Jones' men boasted 68% possession, 142 more metres, 35 more carries, as well as more clean breaks, offloads and defenders beaten.
Argentina lifted the pace at the resumption, and retook the lead after seven minutes through a strike move off a lineout that saw the ball spread wide to Santiago Carreras, who in turn hit Boffelli out wide to go over in the corner.
Boffelli was unable to convert his own effort, but was successful moments later when Carreras took advantage of a wayward pass to scamper away for Los Pumas' second try, making the score 24-16 to Michael Cheika's men.
Only on the pitch 29 seconds, Jack van Poortvliet made an immediate impact when he sniped from the base of a ruck and broke away from Francisco Gomez Kodela and Pablo Matera, running in a try from 30 metres, with Farrell's successful conversion making it a one point game.
As the hour passed, Farrell and Boffelli continued their battle of the boot, England's centre notching up his fifth penalty and Boffelli his sixth.
On debut, second row Alex Coles grew into the game making ground with positive carries. The Northampton Saint was the catalyst behind a promising attack that gave England good attacking position, only for the subsequent phases to be thwarted by stubborn Argentine defence.
That defence held on, as Los Pumas denied an 11th consecutive defeat at the hands of England.
Teams
England
15. Freddie Steward, 14. Jack Nowell (VC) 13. Manu Tuilagi, 12. Owen Farrell (C), 11.Joe Cokanasiga, 10. Marcus Smith, 9. Ben Youngs, 1. Ellis Genge (VC), 2. Luke Cowan-Dickie, 3. Kyle Sinckler, 4. Alex Coles, 5. Jonny Hill, 6. Maro Itoje, 7. Tom Curry, 8. Billy Vunipola.
Finishers
16. Jack Singleton, 17. Mako Vunipola, 18. Joe Heyes, 19. David Ribbans, 20. Sam Simmonds, 21. Jack Willis 22. Jack van Poortlviet, 23. Henry Slade.
Argentina
15. Juan Cruz Mallia, 14. Mateo Carreras, 13. Matias Moroni, 12. Jeronimo de la Fuenta, 11. Emiliano Boffelli, 10. Santiago Carreras, 9. Gonzalo Bertranou, 1. Thomas Gallo, 2. Julian Montoya (C), 3. Francisco Gomez Kodela 4. Matias Alemanno, 5. Tomas Lavanini, 6. Juan Martin Gonzalez, 7. Marcos Kremer, 8. Pablo Matera.
Replacements
16. Ignacio Ruiz, 17. Nahuel Tetaz Chaparro, 18. Eduardo Bello, 19. Lucas Paulos, 20. Facundo Isa, 21. Eliseo Morales, 22. Tomas Albornoz, 23. Matias Orlando.
Fixtures & Results
England 29 - 30 Argentina
England vs Japan
England vs New Zealand
England vs South Africa
