England vs Argentina team news: Mako Vunipola and Jack Nowell return to bench for first Rugby World Cup games
Mako Vunipola and Jack Nowell will make their first appearances of the Rugby World Cup, albeit from the replacements’ bench after being named in the England matchday squad for Saturday’s clash against Argentina.
Eddie Jones has reverted to the side that defeated Tonga in the opening match of the World Cup, with the only change to the starting XV being the selection of George Kruis ahead of Courtney Lawes in the second row.
It means Jones has made nine changes to the side that beat the United States last time out, reverting to what appears to be his strongest line-up for the meeting with the Pumas that could seal their progression to the quarter-finals.
“Argentina is a completely different team from others that we have played so far in the pool stages and are always about the physical contest,” said Jones. “This week it’s about getting our game right, our set piece in a good place and making sure defensively we are organised and ready to find ways to score points against them.”
“We are in Tokyo for the first time and the players are excited to be here and have had a good week’s preparation so far. We know Argentina are a very good team and our players will be ready for the game.”
With Vunipola and Nowell back in the mix, both Ellis Genge and Joe Cokanasiga are dropped from the matchday squad, with Vunipola returning after hamstring surgery and Nowell fully recovered from the ankle injury he suffered in the Premiership final on 1 June.
Vunipola attempted a comeback against Ireland in the World Cup warm-ups, only to damage the scar tissue on his hamstring that ruled him unavailable for the opening two matches in Japan. Nowell, on the other hand, has not played any rugby at all over the last four months, having also had his appendix removed during the August training camp in Treviso.
Elliot Daly continues at full-back with Anthony Watson and Jonny May restored on the wing, while George Ford and Owen Farrell are reunited in the midfield, meaning that Manu Tuilagi once again is named in the No 13 shirt, with Ben Youngs at scrum-half.
Joe Marler starts his third match in a row at loosehead prop, joining Jamie George and Kyle Sinckler in the front row, with Maro Itoje joining Kruis in the second row in an all-Saracens line-up. Billy Vunipola and Tom Curry also start their third consecutive matches, with Sam Underhill returning at openside flanker.
Luke Cowan-Dickie is named on the bench alongside Vunipola with Dan Cole the other front-row cover, with Lawes and Lewis Ludlam the other forwards in the matchday squad. Nowell is joined by Willi Heinz and Henry Slade, who returns from a knee injury suffered in the win over Tonga.
England team to face Argentina
Elliot Daly; Anthony Watson, Manu Tuilagi, Owen Farrell, Jonny May; George Ford, Ben Youngs; Joe Marler, Jamie George, Kyle Sinckler; Maro Itoje, George Kruis; Tom Curry, Sam Underhill, Billy Vunipola.
Replacements: Luke Cowan-Dickie, Mako Vunipola, Dan Cole, Courtney Lawes, Lewis Ludlam, Willi Heinz, Henry Slade, Jack Nowell.
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