England v Argentina SUNDAY 4.10pm

[Puja]

Team to be announced at 2.30pm: Telegraph reckons Daly in for Roebuck on the wing, Steward at full-back, no Arundell. Cue board meltdown...

Puja

[Captainhaircut]

Slade at 13 too. Guess we don’t fancy any of the backs actually carrying the ball then.

[Puja]

Genge
LCD
AOF
Itoje
Coles
Pepper
Underhill
Earl

Spencer
Ford
Daly
Dingwall
Slade
IFW
Steward

Dan, Baxter, Stuart, Ewels, TCurry, Pollock, Mitchell, MSmith

[FKAS]

Genge, LCD, AOF
Itoje, Coles
Pepper, Earl, Underhill
Spencer, Ford
Dingwall, Slade
Daly, Steward, IFW

Dan, Baxter, Stuart, Ewels, Curry, Pollock, Mitchell, M Smith

[FKAS]

Puja beats me to it.

Heyes gets a week off, not a bad idea.

Backline doesn't inspire but the bench could add a bit more xfactor if we need it.

[twitchy]

Yeah, this will be a really tough match.

[Puja]

Heyes omitted from the XXIII, which I don't mind too much after three very successful starts - a rest isn't a bad idea. Mitchell also getting a rest makes sense. Still not a Spencer fan, but he's better from the start. CCS dropped entirely seems weird - surely this is the ideal game to continue his education at lock? Will we gain much from Ewels?

Disappointed in no Arundell - I can only imagine that there's something about him which the coaching staff think is not up to snuff and he's been sent away to improve himself. With Blackett in there, I'm much more trusting in that being the right decision, and Self Betterment has done well with getting the best out of players like Heyes and Mitchell by sending them away to improve, so IBWT, I suppose.

I'm not thrilled about Slade, but he was the form Prem player, is the experienced head, and I'm not so enamoured of Ojomoh that I'd want him chucked in the deep end for this game on the basis of future promise.

Puja

[fivepointer]

Slade starting is an obvious downer. Not thrilled to see Daly brought straight in and Ewels on the bench having been out of action for several weeks.

AOF getting a start is noteworthy.

[pjm1]

Yeah, of all those changes I'm disappointed to see Ewels replace CCS. I wonder if the lineout issues from last weekend have resulted in more drills and Ewels is seen as the safer bench option?

I am not a Slade fan, but given the number of injuries to 13 (and stand-in 13s) I can see why he's decided to go for experience rather than potential (e.g. Ojomoh playing slightly out of position). Similar story on the wing, favouring the safe boot of Daly, rather than electric boots of Arundell.

It certainly elevates this to a more exciting game (in the wrong way!) IMO - I'd feel far more comfortable wheeling out the same team as last weekend, but that isn't an option given injuries. And in terms of player welfare, I'm supportive of the reasons behind the other rotations from starting to bench etc. Nice to see AOF start, too!

Good luck to the boys and fingers crossed Blackett's magic continues to work...

[FKAS]

Is CCS fully fit? Only got a couple of minutes off the bench last weekend. Maybe he's been struggling.

[Which Tyler]

It's weird to me how Freeman is considered not out of position at 13 as a winger with 15 matches at 13.
Meanwhile Ojomoh IS out of position at 13, as a centre with 22 matches at 13 - to the point that some would prefer to see Earl at 12 than Ojomoh at 13.

For comparison, Lawrence has 19 matches at 12 (0 when first started there for England) - and is considered by many to be an IC who's out of position at 13.

It's like this year's version of Ant Watson not being trusted at fullback because he never plays there for his club

[Stom]

Ugh. I’m not enamored with that. What happens if we lose IFW? I don’t like the idea of no wing cover, so would have had Arundell on the wing, Smith at FB, and Daly on the bench. Then we’re covered everywhere

[Oakboy]

Apart from AOF and (required?) rotation/rest for Mitchell and Heyes every either/or selection is safety-first: Earl/Underhill starting instead of Curry/Pollock; Slade instead of Ojomoh; Daly instead of Arundell; Steward instead of Marcus; Ewels instead of CCS.

I ought to be disappointed but it IS a declaration of the importance of beating Argentina which I applaud. At this point 4/4 wins going into the 6N SHOULD be the priority. It's not the time for risk. Had last week's game been a win against Argentina and this Sunday's game was NZ, I think Heyes and Mitchell would have started but the other changes/decisions would have stood.

[Spiffy]

Heyes omitted from the XXIII, which I don't mind too much after three very successful starts - a rest isn't a bad idea. Mitchell also getting a rest makes sense. Still not a Spencer fan, but he's better from the start. CCS dropped entirely seems weird - surely this is the ideal game to continue his education at lock? Will we gain much from Ewels?

Disappointed in no Arundell - I can only imagine that there's something about him which the coaching staff think is not up to snuff and he's been sent away to improve himself. With Blackett in there, I'm much more trusting in that being the right decision, and Self Betterment has done well with getting the best out of players like Heyes and Mitchell by sending them away to improve, so IBWT, I suppose.

I'm not thrilled about Slade, but he was the form Prem player, is the experienced head, and I'm not so enamoured of Ojomoh that I'd want him chucked in the deep end for this game on the basis of future promise.

Puja

Even if no Arundell, there still decent wings like Radwan and Murley available. SB is taking a big chance on Daly who has played no rugby for some time. And yes - it's hard to get enthused about a Dingwall/Slade centre partnership against an abrasive Argie midfield.

[Epaminondas Pules]

Luckily we’re playing Argentina, though the point still stands

[Epaminondas Pules]

Much the same as everyone else.

Pleased to see AOF start.
Slade makes sense with the injuries.
Daly doesn’t with the lack of game time alongside the omission of Arundell.
Ewels equally.
Don’t like the bench either from a backs perspective. Or rather the full 9 backs.

[Spiffy]

Luckily we’re playing Argentina, though the point still stands

Woops! thanks - slip of the pen.Fixed.

[FKAS]

I presume we are going with Daly as we want someone to play the Freeman/Roebuck role on the right wing and don't think Arundell can do it.

I do share the concerns over what happens if a winger goes down injured. Presumably Steward onto the wing but that's far from ideal, though I do get selecting him at 15 given the aerial competition and need for a physical carrier in the backline.

Ewels onto the bench with no CCS is probably down to injury but that is a shame.

[Puja]

I do share the concerns over what happens if a winger goes down injured.

I presume we are going with Daly as we want someone to play the Freeman/Roebuck role on the right wing and don't think Arundell can do it.

I wonder if any of it is to do with getting IFW back to the right wing. I was scornful at the suggestion that he couldn't play 11 before the AIs, but he hasn't looked right and there've been occasions where I expected him to pin back his ears and go for it and instead he's cut inside, so maybe there is something to the theory?

Puja

[p/d]

Autumn 2025 and a back division featuring Spencer, Ford, Slade and Daly is like opening the wrong bottle of wine. And then, throw in Dingwall, you find the fecker is corked.

[Mellsblue]

Errgh. That backline makes me want to cry.

[Danno]

Errgh. That backline makes me want to cry.

I'm not terribly impressed with the pack either with AOF starting, Dan and Ewels to come on from the bench. It all feels a bit tepid.

[Mellsblue]

Errgh. That backline makes me want to cry.

I'm not terribly impressed with the pack either with AOF starting, Dan and Ewels to come on from the bench. It all feels a bit tepid.

I like the AOF selection as he’s one for future. The same for Dan albeit the jury is more out on him.
Ewels, Spencer, Slade and Daly, though…

[Danno]

Errgh. That backline makes me want to cry.

I'm not terribly impressed with the pack either with AOF starting, Dan and Ewels to come on from the bench. It all feels a bit tepid.

I like the AOF selection as he’s one for future. The same for Dan albeit the jury is more out on him.
Ewels, Spencer, Slade and Daly, though…

Agree on AOF but it might be a little soon and a hint that we're underestimating Arg is all.

My kingdom for another SH! Or two.

[Mikey Brown]

I do share the concerns over what happens if a winger goes down injured.

I wonder if any of it is to do with getting IFW back to the right wing. I was scornful at the suggestion that he couldn't play 11 before the AIs, but he hasn't looked right and there've been occasions where I expected him to pin back his ears and go for it and instead he's cut inside, so maybe there is something to the theory?

Puja

I thought he was generally pretty good, though I didn’t generally see much to separate him from what Murley and Arundel are capable of.

Is that part of getting a few caps, learning never to leave your support and becoming a player who will always cuts inside and recycles? I don’t actually remember many of those occasions, but it feels like it happens to a lot of wingers.

I’d be curious to know which wingers have strong stances in their preferred wings and for what reason. Daly has only ever played left for instance, but there are arguments for having your strong kicking foot in either side of the field really.

As for the backline for Arg, yeah tepid is the word. I don’t really mind any of them that much in isolation, but together it really lacks much bite or oomph.

Either way Spencer clicks now or we put that whole thing to bed. I hope Porter can leapfrog him. I dont’t see him becoming the next DuPont but I just feel like he can handle the pace.