RWC Match Preview: England v Argentina

England, finalists in 2019, open their Rugby World Cup 2023 challenge with a difficult clash against an Argentina side confident of booking a place in the knockout phase of the competition.

Tournament history favours Steve Borthwick’s side - England have won the three previous RWC meetings, including a convincing 39-10 victory in Japan four years ago.

But Los Pumas came out on top the last time the two sides met, last November - and they’ve had a confidence-boosting run-in to the tournament. Unlike England.

FIXTURE: England v Argentina

GROUND: Stade de Marseille (67,847)

KICK-OFF: 21:00 local time (GMT+2)

FIXTURE HISTORY

The first match between an England XV and Argentina was in 1978. The first test, in which players from both sides were capped came three years later in 1981. 

In the 42 years that have followed, the two sides have met 25 times - including three times in Rugby World Cups. England have won 19 of them, Argentina five, and that first match ended in a 19-19 draw.

MEMORABLE MATCH

In November 2006, Los Pumas recorded their first win over England outside Argentina - a result that ended the era of Andy Robinson as head coach. 

Last November, they finally added to that number, with a dramatic and thoroughly deserved 30-29 victory at a rain-sodden Twickenham. 

England led 16-12 at half-time, but Emiliano Boffelli and player-of-the-match Santiago Carreras crossed in quick succession to turn the game on its head.

Eddie Jones was replaced as England coach after last November’s internationals, which also included defeat to South Africa, a draw with New Zealand, and victory over Japan.

KEY TALKING POINT

England head into this year’s World Cup on the back of just three wins in nine matches under Steve Borthwick, including a first-ever defeat against an emerging nation when they lost 30-22 against Fiji.

The head coach has insisted that his squad will come good at the tournament. An opening round win against their biggest Pool D rivals might quiet some critics. The question is whether his confidence is well placed.

PLAYER HEAD-TO-HEAD

George Ford v Santiago Carreras. In a game between two sides that look very evenly matched on paper, two Premiership fly-halves - Sale Sharks’ Ford and Gloucester Rugby’s Carreras - go head-to-head on the biggest rugby stage of all. The Argentinian drifts between 10 and 15 on the teamsheet. If there is an advantage, it may be here. Has coach Michael Cheika made the right call?

STATS-AMAZING

Argentina coach Cheika has put his faith in experience for this tournament - his 33-player squad featured hooker Agustín Creevy, 38, who is Los Pumas’ first-ever test centurion. He and Nicolás Sánchez, who’s not in the 23 for the opener, are coming into their fourth Rugby World Cup. Another 10 of the 33 Argentina squad members are playing their third.

REF WATCH

Mathieu Raynal (France). The home nation’s only representative on the 12-strong referees’ panel at RWC 2023 was a promising back in his youth, winning the French junior championship with Perpignan in 1998.

TEAMS

ENGLAND Freddie Steward; Jonny May, Joe Marchant, Manu Tuilagi, Elliot Daly; George Ford, Alex Mitchell; Ellis Genge, Jamie George, Dan Cole, Maro Itoje, Ollie Chessum; Courtney Lawes (captain), Tom Curry, Ben Earl

Replacements:  Theo Dan, Joe Marler, Will Stuart, George Martin, Lewis Ludlam, Danny Care, Marcus Smith, Ollie Lawrence 

ARGENTINA Juan Cruz Mallia; Emiliano Boffelli, Lucio Cinti, Santiago Chocobares, Mateo Carreras; Santiago Carreras, Gonzalo Bertranou; Thomas Gallo, Julian Montoya (captain), Francisco Gómez Kodela; Matias Alemanno, Tomas Lavanini; Pablo Matera, Marcos Kremer, Juan Martin Gonzalez

Replacements: Agustín Creevy, Joel Sclavi, Eduardo Bello, Guido Petti, Pedro Rubiolo, Rodrigo Bruni, Lautaro Bazan Velez, Matías Moroni