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
By Michael Cantillon
Last Updated: 04/11/22 11:25am
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, 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 tighthead Kyle Sinckler, Saracens lock Maro Itoje – starting at the blindside 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 out-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, tighthead Will Stuart and lock Ollie Chessum are out injured, while other starters from July missing are scrum-half Danny Care and centre Guy Porter.
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.
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