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RWC Pool C Preview – Argentina vs England

Veteran fly-half not even on the bench, while Montoya keeps place at hooker ahead of former captain Creevy after hat-trick against Tonga.

TOKYO, 3 Oct – Argentina coach Mario Ledesma has sprung a major surprise, leaving Nicolas Sanchez out of his team for the must-win game against England on Saturday. The fly-half, who has 77 caps and was the top points scorer at Rugby World Cup 2015, is not even among the replacements.

Benjamin Urdapilleta, who has won 12 caps in as many years, starts at 10 with Lucas Mensa providing cover on the bench for the Pool C clash. The 23-year-old’s only international start came at inside-centre against South Africa in August.

Julian Montoya, pictured, keeps his at hooker place after he scored a hat-trick of tries against Tonga, meaning former captain Agustin Creevy will have to wait to break Argentina’s caps record from the bench.

After starting against France in the first game, Javier Ortega Desio returns at number eight to provide an extra specialist lineout option.

“They have a strong forward pack, strong lineout, strong scrum and very dynamic backs,” said England second-row Maro Itoje. “Very physical as well.”

TOKYO, 3 Oct – Mako Vunipola and Jack Nowell return to the England match-day squad for the first time in the Rugby World Cup.

Vunipola, has played just 17 minutes of rugby since seriously injuring his hamstring when Saracens won the Heineken Cup in May. He made a short appearance as a replacement in England’s World Cup warm-up win over Ireland at Twickenham but only lasted 17 minutes before injuring the hamstring again.

Nowell seriously injured his ankle playing for Exeter in their Premiership final loss to Saracens at Twickenham in June. The winger required surgery and further treatment to be fit for the World Cup. He also underwent an emergency appendix operation during England’s second training camp in Italy.

Ben Youngs will start his 92nd game for his country, becoming the third most capped England men’s player behind Dylan Hartley (97) and Jason Leonard (114). Dan Cole will equal Youngs if he features in the game off the bench.

Lewis Ludlam, the Northampton flanker, has won the battle to be the replacement back-row option, moving ahead of Mark Wilson.

There are six Saracens in the starting XV with a seventh, Mako Vunipola, on the bench.

England have won their first two games at RWC 2019, and will be seeking their 10th straight victory over Argentina.

RR WORLD RANKINGS – During World Cup the RR Ranking Points are DOUBLED

ARG (on 76.80 points) at a Neutral venue -vs- ENG (on 88.13 points) in a RWC match

Possible Outcome Rating Point
Exchange
New ARG
Rating
New ENG
Rating
Will ARG
overtake ENG?
If ARG win by 1-15 points 4.000 80.80 84.13 No
If ARG win by more than 15 6.000 82.80 82.13 Yes
If result is a draw 2.000 78.80 86.13 No
If ENG win by 1-15 points 0.000 76.80 88.13 No
If ENG win by more than 15 0.000 76.80 88.13 No

TEAMS
🇦🇷 ARGENTINA
1 Nahuel Tetaz Chaparro, 2 Julián Montoya, 3 Juan Figallo, 4 Guido Petti, 5 Tomás Lavanini, 6 Pablo Matera (capt.), 7 Marcos Kremer, 8 Javier Ortega Desio, 9 Tomás Cubelli, 10 Benjamín Urdapilleta, 11 Santiago Carreras, 12 Jerónimo de la Fuente, 13 Matías Orlando, 14 Matías Moroni, 15 Emiliano Boffelli
Replacements: 16 Agustín Creevy, 17 Mayco Vivas, 18 Santiago Medrano, 19 Matías Alemanno, 20 Tomás Lezana, 21 Felipe Ezcurra, 22 Lucas Mensa, 23 Bautista Delguy

🏴 󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 ENGLAND
1 Joe Marler, 2 Jamie George, 3 Kyle Sinckler, 4 Maro Itoje, 5 George Kruis, 6 Tom Curry, 7 Sam Underhill, 8 Billy Vunipola, 9 Ben Youngs, 10 George Ford, 11, Johnny May, 12 Owen Farrell (capt.), 13 Manu Tuilagi, 14 Anthony Watson, 15 Elliot Daly
Replacements: 16 Luke Cowan-Dickie, 17 Mako Vunipola, 18 Dan Cole, 19 Courtney Lawes, 20 Lewis Ludlam, 21 Willi Heinz, 22 Henry Slade, 23 Jack Nowell

Date: Saturday, October 05
Kick-Off: 17:00 local
Venue: Tokyo Stadium, Tokyo
Referee: Nigel Owens (Wales)
Assistants: Angus Gardner (Australia), Andrew Brace (Ireland)
TMO: Marius Jonker (South Africa)

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