Eddie Jones makes eight changes to England side which beat Australia in July's series-decider; Hooker Luke Cowan-Dickie, tighthead Kyle Sinckler, lock Alex Coles, Maro Itoje (at flanker), openside Tom Curry, scrum-half Ben Youngs, centre Manu Tuilagi, wing Joe Cokanasiga all start
Friday 4 November 2022 15:25, UK
Owen Farrell has been declared fit to captain England on Sunday vs Argentina, while Northampton forward Alex Coles will make his Test debut.
Manu Tuilagi and Joe Cokanasiga return to the team for the Autumn Nations Series opener (Sunday, 2.15pm kick-off), with Japan, New Zealand and South Africa to come in successive weeks this month at Twickenham.
England head coach Eddie Jones has made eight changes to the side that beat Australia in July's third Test series-decider.
Five changes come in the forward pack as Exeter Chiefs hooker Luke Cowan-Dickie, Bristol Bears tight-head prop Kyle Sinckler, Saracens lock Maro Itoje - starting at blindside flanker this weekend - and Sale Sharks flanker Tom Curry all return to start, while Coles comes in for his Test debut in the second row.
In the backs, Bath wing Joe Cokanasiga, Sale centre Manu Tuilagi and Leicester scrum-half Ben Youngs come in.
Farrell captains the side from inside-centre, with Marcus Smith starting at fly-half. Sunday's Test is the first time Farrell, Tuilagi and Smith start alongside one another.
Hooker Jamie George, blindside flanker Courtney Lawes, openside Lewis Ludlam, wing Tommy Freeman, tight-head prop Will Stuart and lock Ollie Chessum are out injured, while other starters from July missing are scrum-half Danny Care and centre Guy Porter.
Among the replacements, Gloucester hooker Jack Singleton, Saracens loose-head Mako Vunipola and Leicester Tigers tight-head Joe Heyes provide front-row cover.
In a 6/2 split of forwards/backs on the bench, Northampton second row Dave Ribbans, back-rows Sam Simmonds (Exeter) and Jack Willis (unattached, formerly Wasps), Leicester scrum-half Jack van Poortvliet and Exeter centre Henry Slade complete the squad.
Jones knows that his team are in for a physical challenge at Twickenham as Los Pumas develop further under head coach Michael Cheika.
"They've gone back to play a more traditional style of game for Argentina under Cheik," Jones said. "More set-piece orientated, coming at the front door at you and playing off that.
"They're a bit like the French team, they try to get you with their forwards and then they try to play off the back of that. We've got to stop them coming through the front door.
"Our forwards are going to have the majority of the work and we feel like that is the best cover," he said about a 6/2 bench split. "With Sladey (Henry Slade) there, he can handle a number of positions and then Sam Simmonds can handle something in the backs if we need to.
Farrell's return to the side after clearing the return to play protocols following concussion gives England an added edge, as Jones explained.
"Owen's just got a huge competitive spirit. He wants to win; he understands how to win, and he brings people with him," England's head coach said. "I don't think I've seen too many players that have his level of competitive spirit.
"He's done all the required protocol, satisfied every part of it. Earlier last week, he wasn't that well and we didn't think he'd be involved. He's recovered really well."
Farrell will join up with Smith and Tuilagi in England's backline as a 10-12-13 unit for the first time and Jones likes the balance the trio bring to team.
"It's pretty exciting, isn't it? You've got guile with Marcus, that competitive spirit and game sense in Owen and then you've got the power and pace of Manu. We're looking forward to those three. They've had three training sessions this week and certainly, in every training session they've looked a bit sharper."
England: 15 Freddie Steward, 14 Joe Cokanasiga, 13 Manu Tuilagi, 12 Owen Farrell (c), 11 Jack Nowell, 10 Marcus Smith, 9 Ben Youngs; 1 Ellis Genge, 2 Luke Cowan-Dickie, 3 Kyle Sinckler, 4 Alex Coles, 5 Jonny Hill, 6 Maro Itoje, 7 Tom Curry, 8 Billy Vunipola.
Replacements: 16 Jack Singleton, 17 Mako Vunipola, 18 Joe Heyes, 19 Dave Ribbans, 20 Sam Simmonds 21 Jack Willis, 22 Jack van Poortvliet, 23 Henry Slade.
