To face the Pumas this Friday in the small final of the Rugby World Cup, England coach Steve Borthwick made eight changes compared to the team beaten by South Africa in the semi-final (15-16) . Back triangle completely changed with Henry Arundell and Freddie Steward starting on the wing, while Marcus Smith will return at full-back. THE
Steve Borthwick decided to give a chance to several players who did not play much during the competition. Notably with a new front row that includes props Ellis Genge and Will Stuart alongside hooker Theo Dan, who has spent the last three matches as an unused substitute. Ollie Chessum returns to the second row, while Sam Underhill, who joined the team two weeks ago due to injury, starts at flanker.
Tom Curry, who will win his 50th cap, will start on the third wing on the closed side, with Ben Earl at number eight. Scrum-half Ben Youngs will start his first match of the tournament and take his cap tally to 127, while captain Owen Farrell will take up the fly-half position. Jamie George, Bevan Rodd, Dan Cole, David Ribbans, Lewis Ludlam, Danny Care, George Ford and Ollie Lawrence will be on the substitutes’ bench.
“After the disappointment of last weekend’s game against South Africa, it is important that this Friday we play again with the determination and dedication that almost got the team the result we wanted », says Borthwick. “This small final gives us the opportunity to end on a positive note, to continue building for the future and to give our supporters one last chance to support the team here in Paris.”
Marcus Smith was ruled out of the match against South Africa due to concussion, but he has another chance to impress for England at full-back after a string of thrilling performances as a starter or that he was coming off the bench. Arundell scored a record five tries in the emphatic victory over Chile but failed to secure a place in the squad for the following matches, while Steward, who had a superb game at goal The full-back against the Springboks, is established on the right wing, a position which is not familiar to him.
The two teams met on the opening weekend of the tournament in Marseille, where England won 27-10 despite Curry being sent off after three minutes. It was England’s 11th victory. England over the last 12 meetings, the Pumas’ only success during this period having come at Twickenham 11 months ago. England have also won all four meetings between the two teams in the World Cup.
15. Marcus Smith, 14. Freddie Steward, 13. Joe Marchant, 12. Manu Tuilagi, 11. Henry Arundell, 10. Owen Farrell (captain), 9. Ben Youngs, 8. Ben Earl, 7. Sam Underhill, 6. Tom Curry, 5. Ollie Chessum, 4. Maro Itoje, 3. Will Stuart, 2. Theo Dan, 1. Ellis Genge.
Substitutes: 16. Jamie George, 17. Bevan Rodd, 18. Dan Cole, 19. David Ribbans, 20. Lewis Ludlum, 21. Danny Care, 22. George Ford, 23. Ollie Lawrence.
