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Marcus Smith and Owen Farrell start for England as Borthwick makes eight changes for Argentina clash
Marcus Smith will reprise his role at full-back for Friday’s bronze final against Argentina as one of eight changes to England’s starting XV from the heart-breaking semi-final loss to South Africa.
Freddie Steward, one of the stars of the defeat to the Springboks, shifts out to the wing to make way for Smith, with Henry Arundell given a fourth Test start on the left wing. Elliot Daly and Jonny May, the two starting wings last Saturday at the Stade de France, are omitted from the squad entirely.
Captain Owen Farrell is once again preferred to George Ford at fly-half alongside Manu Tuilagi and Joe Marchant, as head coach Steve Borthwick selects an unchanged midfield.
Up front, Borthwick has opted for a new-look front-row, while Ollie Chessum starts over second-row George Martin, who was so impressive against the Springboks.
On the flanks, the ‘Kamikaze Kids’ return as Sam Underhill makes his first start of the World Cup, with Tom Curry shifting to blindside in place of Courtney Lawes, whose England career seems to have ended with last Saturday’s semi-final loss.
Curry starts in spite of the continuing furore surrounding his confrontation with South African hooker Bongi Mbonambi last Saturday.
Bevan Rodd, David Ribbans and Lewis Ludlam all come into the 23, via the replacements, with the backs’ bench unchanged from the South Africa defeat.
“After the disappointment of last weekend’s game against South Africa, it is important that this Friday we once again play with the determination and dedication that so nearly earned the team the result we wanted,” said Borthwick.
“The Bronze Final gives us a great opportunity to finish the tournament on a positive note, continue to build for the future, and to give our supporters one last chance to get behind the squad out here in Paris. The players are looking forward to the challenge against what will be a strong Argentina side.
“Our support from the many England fans, both at home and from those who have travelled to France to watch the team play, has been nothing short of fantastic. We are incredibly grateful to have your backing and on behalf of the entire England Team I would like to thank you all once again”.
England starting XV: M Smith; F Steward, J Marchant, M Tuilagi, H Arundell; O Farrell (c), B Youngs; E Genge (vc), T Dan, W Stuart, M Itoje, O Chessum, T Curry, S Underhill, B Earl.
Replacements: J George, B Rodd, D Cole, D Ribbans, L Ludlam, D Care, G Ford (vc), O Lawrence.
01:48 PM BST
Borthwick looks to the future − but with sentimental nod to Ben Youngs
A final selection by Steve Borthwick that is something of a surprise, with the England head coach revealing his sentimental side by handing a start to Ben Youngs, for what is likely to be his final game on the Test stage.
There is also a look to the future with eight changes in all from the side that came so close to defeating South Africa in the World Cup semi-final.
Go here for Gavin’s full verdict.
01:40 PM BST
A reminder of the team
Your team to face Argentina in our last match of #RWC2023 🌹
KO: 20:00 BST | Live on ITV 📺
Hit the link to read more ⬇️ #ARGvENG— England Rugby (@EnglandRugby) October 25, 2023
01:32 PM BST
Telegraph readers leave their verdict on the England team
Oliver Tattersall writes: “Why not have Jack Walker on the bench instead of Jamie George? Walker has barely featured in this WC, whereas George has played almost every minute when starting. Surely it’s worth giving someone a bit younger some more game time as George may not even be around for the next WC.”
Barney Warren writes: “Disappointing that Lawes won’t get one more run out, but at least he goes out on an heroic performance in the semi. I like the look of this team though and hopefully will mean an open game.”
Oliver Tinsley writes: “Pick Smith at 10, Arundell on the Wing with Malins and Steward at 15 with Lawrence at 13. Let the young boys play and show us a decent game of rugby.”
What do you make of Borthwick’s team selection? Please leave your verdict in the comments section below.
01:28 PM BST
No last hurrah for Courtney Lawes
Cam Henderson taking over here from Charles.
England fans will be denied the chance to say one final farewell to Courtney Lawes after the blindside flanker announced his international retirement following the semi-final loss to South Africa.
The test centurion has been left out of Borthwick’s squad to face Argentina, with Tom Curry taking his place at blind-side and Sam Underhill slotting back in at open-side to reprise the “kamikaze kids” pairing from 2019.
Lawes’s absence on Friday will come as a disappointment to some supporters, particularly as the 34-year-old was denied the perfect farewell to Twickenham on the occasion of his 100th cap when England lost to Fiji on the eve of the tournament.
Lawes debuted for England in 2009 against Australia, represented his country at four World Cups and went on to win 105 caps. He has been instrumental throughout this World Cup and fans will surely miss him – opposition players are probably breathing a big sigh of relief.
Farewell Courtney!
12:51 PM BST
The return of the 'Kamikaze Kids'
Underhill and Curry back on the flanks, Ben Youngs back at 9... are we back in 2019?
I jest, of course; that is an England team which, on paper, should be easily good enough to beat the Pumas.
Let’s see if they’ve got enough in the tank!
12:34 PM BST
World Cup farewells...
Care, Youngs, Cole and - most probably - Tuilagi get theirs; Lawes, Marler, and (most probably), Daly, May and Vunipola do not.
Borthwick is due to speak this afternoon and we will bring you more information when we have it.
12:30 PM BST
Breaking! Eight changes for England against the Pumas
Marcus Smith starts at full-back with Freddie Steward starting on the wing in place of Elliot Daly; Henry Arundell replaces Jonny May on the left.
There’s a new-look front-row, Ollie Chessum starting over George Martin (who must be carrying a knock), and Sam Underhill makes his first start of the World Cup, with Tom Curry shifting to blindside in place of Courtney Lawes, whose England career seems to have ended with last Saturday’s semi-final loss.
Bevan Rodd, David Ribbans and Lewis Ludlam all come into the 23, via the replacements. There are clearly some bruised bodies up front after that heart-breaking loss to the Springboks.
England starting XV: M Smith; F Steward, J Marchant, M Tuilagi, H Arundell; O Farrell (c), B Youngs; E Genge (vc), T Dan, W Stuart, M Itoje, O Chessum, T Curry, S Underhill, B Earl.
Replacements: J George, B Rodd, D Cole, D Ribbans, L Ludlam, D Care, G Ford (vc), O Lawrence.
Thoughts?
12:19 PM BST
Friday's referee
Will be Australia’s Nic Berry, with England’s Wayne Barnes given the honour of Saturday’s final, as exclusively revealed by Telegraph Sport.
Argentina name their team this afternoon.
12:07 PM BST
What would you pick?
Let us know in the comments, with just over 20 minutes until Steve Borthwick names his final matchday 23 of this year’s World Cup.
12:02 PM BST
What team would I pick?
...I hear you no one cry?
Well, it’s below.
Starting XV: F Steward; J May, J Marchant, M Tuilagi, E Daly; O Farrell (c), A Mitchell; E Genge, J George, D Cole, M Itoje, G Martin, C Lawes, T Curry, B Earl.
Replacements: T Dan, J Marler, K Sinckler, O Chessum, L Ludlam, D Care, G Ford, O Lawrence.
And you can view my colleagues’’ choices by clicking here, too.
11:54 AM BST
England return to training
And, from Bangalore this morning...
11:41 AM BST
The world of rugby
Never a dull moment over the past 48 hours.
Here’s the latest on the Bongi Mbonambi furore, with the hooker set to play in the World Cup final as World Rugby’s racism investigation will not conclude before the weekend.
Here’s the latest on rugby’s revolution, with an expanded World Cup and global league given the green light yesterday.
And here’s the latest on the RFU confirming talks over a British and Irish League - we shall wait and see how that one pans out.
Once you’ve devoured those three, it will probably be about time for Steve Borthwick to name his matchday 23 for the bronze final in Paris on Friday night.
11:32 AM BST
Good morning!
Amid the desolation and controversy generated after England’s agonising defeat to South Africa in the World Cup semi-final last weekend, it has been easy to forget that, for the losers, there is another game to play (Tom Ward writes).
Whether you’re a fan of the third-place play-off or not, it’s here, England are in it and it’s an international Test match that is very much worth winning.
Perhaps that’s a message more necessary for fans this week than for Steve Borthwick’s squad, who appear to have been in lockdown mode since last week’s defeat as they insulate from the mushrooming furore of the Tom Curry/Bongi Mbonambi situation.
“I think this game is important, there are many reasons that I want players playing the game,” Borthwick said after the semi-final.
“We have more players 25 and under than any other team in the semi-finals and we have some very good young players who will benefit from the experience. I want them playing in big games at World Cups.”
If that statement is anything to go by, changes could well be afoot. Theo Dan, David Ribbans and Jack Walker are names that come to mind in the pack, while Henry Arundell and Ollie Lawrence appeared primed for starting berths.
There will also be the chance for more experienced names, who have not featured as regular starters throughout the tournament, to get some game time. With that in mind, Max Malins, Lewis Ludlam and Sam Underhill will surely all be involved.
This match will also represent a final departure from the international game for some. For Courtney Lawes that is a certainty and while the likes of Ben Youngs, Dan Cole and Joe Marler will likely be turning out for their clubs come Christmas, their future with England appears to be coming to an end.
Stay tuned for full coverage and live reaction from Borthwick’s team announcement, with the side set to be revealed at 12.30.
