England vs Argentina

[Puja]

Telegraph are predicting a few surprises in selection:

England head coach Steve Borthwick is poised to deliver a major selection surprise by starting scrum-half Alex Mitchell for the crucial pool match against Argentina.

Mitchell was not in Borthwick’s initial 33-man squad for the World Cup and his only previous start was against Fiji in England’s final-warm-up game after being called into the squad following Jack van Poortvliet’s injury. Telegraph Sport understands that the 26-year-old has leapt ahead of the more experienced options of Danny Care and Ben Youngs, who have a combined 204 caps.

Mitchell seized his chance, adding a tempo to England’s back-line play against the Pacific Islanders that had been missing in their previous warm-up games. Care has been chosen on the bench ahead of Youngs, the most capped male English player, for the opening Pool D match in Marseille.

For a coach who is often portrayed as risk-adverse, it is a major sign of Borthwick’s confidence in Mitchell that he is prepared to start him for England’s most important pool stage match against Argentina. Mitchell has won just six caps after making his debut against Tonga in 2021, having previously served as an apprentice under Eddie Jones.

Jonny May, another player who was left out of the initial squad, is also poised to start on the wing with Freddie Steward at full-back.

Courtney Lawes will captain the team from blindside flanker, with Tom Curry and Ben Earl likely to make up the back row.

Another potentially eyebrow-raising selection would be in the front row where veteran prop Dan Cole is set to be given the nod at tighthead ahead of Will Stuart and Kyle Sinckler. Cole’s previous tournament experience was losing the 2019 Rugby World Cup final against South Africa where he was given a torrid time up front by Tendai Mtawarira.

Puja

[Mikey Brown]

Cole’s previous tournament experience was losing the 2019 Rugby World Cup final

Lol. It's entirely Dan Cole's fault.

I'm glad we're bringing some dynamism in to the pack to keep up with Mitchell's sniping/breaking game.

I assume this leaves us Genge, George, Itoje and Chessum filling out the rest of the pack?

[Margin_Walker]

When you start the first game of the RWC with two players you didn't pick for the original squad, you know things have been a touch muddled.

[Puja]

Cole’s previous tournament experience was losing the 2019 Rugby World Cup final

Lol. It's entirely Dan Cole's fault.

I'm glad we're bringing some dynamism in to the pack to keep up with Mitchell's sniping/breaking game.

I assume this leaves us Genge, George, Itoje and Chessum filling out the rest of the pack?

I mean, on paper, it's quite decent. Curry and Earl should make up for Lawes in the back row and Itoje and Chessum are hardly carthorses. With a backline of Mitchell, Ford, May, Lawrence, Marchant, Daly, and Steward, we could play quite an expansive game and offer a lot of challenges in attack.

We won't, of course, but on paper it looks quite handy.

Puja

[p/d]

When you start the first game of the RWC with two players you didn't pick for the original squad, you know things have been a touch muddled.

To be fair he was probably going to start JVP and, out of the 3, Mitchell is the most like for like.

[Banquo]

Have Lawes, Curry, Earl started together before out of interest?

[p/d]

Have Lawes, Curry, Earl started together before out of interest?

I think injuries and one being pants have prevented all rugby lovers witnessing this game changing combo.

[fivepointer]

Well yes, some surprises. Mitchell and May starting, Earl at 8, Curry rushed back without a minutes game time, Cole resurrected and doubtless Smith inked in to play FB at about the 65 minute mark.
I dunno, its about as much chance of clicking as any other combination we could randomly select so i'm going to be naively optimistic and assert we'll start the WC with a half decent performance.

[FKAS]

Cole’s previous tournament experience was losing the 2019 Rugby World Cup final

Lol. It's entirely Dan Cole's fault.

England centurion going into his fourth world cup but his only prior experience is the 2019 final.

[Mikey Brown]

Have Lawes, Curry, Earl started together before out of interest?

Didn't Earl literally just get his first England start?

One out of form, one barely fit, one out of position. What could go wrong?

[Banquo]

Have Lawes, Curry, Earl started together before out of interest?

Didn't Earl literally just get his first England start?

One out of form, one barely fit, one out of position. What could go wrong?

er possibly. So the answer is no then.

[Danno]

Have Lawes, Curry, Earl started together before out of interest?

Didn't Earl literally just get his first England start?

One out of form, one barely fit, one out of position. What could go wrong?

Out of form and too 'sore' to put on a suit for a couple hours just days ago.

[Mikey Brown]

Have Lawes, Curry, Earl started together before out of interest?

Didn't Earl literally just get his first England start?

One out of form, one barely fit, one out of position. What could go wrong?

Out of form and too 'sore' to put on a suit for a couple hours just days ago.

I hadn't heard that, but I can't say I'm surprised. Out of form might not even be a fair representation, I just don't think his body is up to it anymore.

[Oakboy]

The best news would be the team being sent out with instructions to not kick for the first 20 minutes apart from penalties and clearances to touch. With some serious practise at keeping the ball with lots of multi-phase stuff (i hope that's what they've been doing) we could make serious early gains in self-belief and surprise a few.

[Mikey Brown]

This isn't a warm up game though. This is the one that actually matters. I can't imagine Mr "he who kicks, wins" is going to do a complete 180.

I like the idea that we'd be confident through multiple phases but refusing to kick doesn't feel like a good tactic at all, and it certainly isn't the biggest issue with how we're playing.

[Margin_Walker]

When you start the first game of the RWC with two players you didn't pick for the original squad, you know things have been a touch muddled.

To be fair he was probably going to start JVP and, out of the 3, Mitchell is the most like for like.

Potentially, although I'd argue that if anyone, Youngs is more like for like to JvP.

Either way, I'm happy enough with Mitchell starting.

[Danno]

Didn't Earl literally just get his first England start?

One out of form, one barely fit, one out of position. What could go wrong?

Out of form and too 'sore' to put on a suit for a couple hours just days ago.

I hadn't heard that, but I can't say I'm surprised. Out of form might not even be a fair representation, I just don't think his body is up to it anymore.

He missed the cap ceremony as a result.

If you want to see just how strapped for cash the RFU are look up a pic of the event; can't even afford a decent tailor.

[Oakboy]

Just read the full DT article. It has Tuilagi at 12 with Marchant/Lawrence at 13 so the whole thing may only be guesswork.

[Banquo]

This isn't a warm up game though. This is the one that actually matters. I can't imagine Mr "he who kicks, wins" is going to do a complete 180.

I like the idea that we'd be confident through multiple phases but refusing to kick doesn't feel like a good tactic at all, and it certainly isn't the biggest issue with how we're playing.

No, indeed refusing to kick would be a bit mad- Argentina are very physical and will give us a very very big test at the breakdown. They've also got some serious wheels in their back line. Even if we were super drilled and integrated this would be a tough game.

[Banquo]

Just read the full DT article. It has Tuilagi at 12 with Marchant/Lawrence at 13 so the whole thing may only be guesswork.

I like their predictor thing though.

[Stom]

This isn't a warm up game though. This is the one that actually matters. I can't imagine Mr "he who kicks, wins" is going to do a complete 180.

I like the idea that we'd be confident through multiple phases but refusing to kick doesn't feel like a good tactic at all, and it certainly isn't the biggest issue with how we're playing.

No- Argentina are very physical and will give us a very very big test at the breakdown. They've also got some serious wheels in their back line. Even if we were super drilled and integrated this would be a tough game.

They're physical?

Don't you know the only way to beat physical is with physical? And physical means BIG.

Tuilagi and Lawrence in midfield fo'so

[rjjb]

This isn't a warm up game though. This is the one that actually matters. I can't imagine Mr "he who kicks, wins" is going to do a complete 180.

I like the idea that we'd be confident through multiple phases but refusing to kick doesn't feel like a good tactic at all, and it certainly isn't the biggest issue with how we're playing.

No- Argentina are very physical and will give us a very very big test at the breakdown. They've also got some serious wheels in their back line. Even if we were super drilled and integrated this would be a tough game.

I don't follow Argentina that closely - is the Newcastle flyer (Carreras?) a regular starter?

[Banquo]

This isn't a warm up game though. This is the one that actually matters. I can't imagine Mr "he who kicks, wins" is going to do a complete 180.

I like the idea that we'd be confident through multiple phases but refusing to kick doesn't feel like a good tactic at all, and it certainly isn't the biggest issue with how we're playing.

No- Argentina are very physical and will give us a very very big test at the breakdown. They've also got some serious wheels in their back line. Even if we were super drilled and integrated this would be a tough game.

I don't follow Argentina that closely - is the Newcastle flyer (Carreras?) a regular starter?

when not crocked.

[jngf]

Have Lawes, Curry, Earl started together before out of interest?

Not very much of a no.8 option there - I would add Ludlam or Martin to the mix but would have Curry to start in place of Lawes at 6 in a heartbeat - though I agree with the sentiment of benching him, he’s not really an impact player in the way Lawes or Earl would be.

[Banquo]

Have Lawes, Curry, Earl started together before out of interest?

Not very much of a no.8 option there - I would add Ludlam or Martin to the mix but would have Curry to start in place of Lawes at 6 in a heartbeat - though I agree with the sentiment of benching him, he’s not really an impact player in the way Lawes or Earl would be.

If you are trying to add an 8 to the mix, not sure how that does it. Ludlam has 5 senior starts there, not sure Martin has at senior level.