Argentina vs England - 12/07/25

[Pieter Steph du Teague]

Unchanged side apart from Northmore in for Slade. Not the replacement I expected but he’s a good player, I’m excited to see what he brings.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

That's definitely the option i thought least likely

 

[Which Tyler]

That's definitely the option i thought least likely

Infinitely more capped than the other options, I guess...

But, yeah.

And if that's the only change... What god do we need to sacrifice to, to protect Ford?
If I were an Argentine lock / backrow, I'd absolutely accept a red (especially a 20-minute one) to take the opponent's only FH out of the game nice and early

 

[Reiser99]

That for me is the most disappointing option at centre. Especially as he hasn't had the best season.

 

[Rugbyfan564]

If Ford has to go off who covers him?

 

[Scotty]

If Ford has to go off who covers him?

Likely Spencer, after JVP comes on then prob find a back rower haha.

 

[Pieter Steph du Teague]

In complete fairness regarding the 10 situation, Atkinson is the only other 10 cover in the squad and I actually don't reckon he'd be any better than Spencer there anyway.

 

[Vieux Talonneur]

Bench unchanged too.

Ford has virtually double the caps of the rest of the back line - and Steward has 37 of those.

 

[Rugbyfan564]

Full squads

England XV: F Steward; T Roebuck, L Northmore, S Atkinson; W Muir; G Ford (co-capt), B Spencer; F Baxter, J George (co-capt), J Heyes, C Ewels, A Coles, B Curry, S Underhill, T Willis.

Replacements: T Dan, B Rodd, A Opoku-Fordjour, C Cunningham-South, G Pepper, A Dombrandt, J van Poortvliet, C Murley.


Argentina XV: B Elizalde; M Moroni, L Cinti, J Piccardo, I Mendy; S Carreras, S Benítez Cruz; T Gallo, J Montoya (capt), F Gómez Kodela, G Petti, P Rubiolo, S Grondona, JM González, P Matera.

Replacements: B Bernasconi, M Vivas, P Delgado, L Paulos, F Isa, B Grondona, A Moyano, N Roger.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

In complete fairness regarding the 10 situation, Atkinson is the only other 10 cover in the squad and I actually don't reckon he'd be any better than Spencer there anyway.

Yeah agree with that,
Possible emergency 10 cover is why I thought Ojomoh would edge out Beard as well - shows what I know

 

[TommiG88]

Taking my “I hate Bath” hat off, I think Ojomoh should have got the nod. In my eyes, he was the best centre in the prem in the 2nd half of the season.

 

[NickBD]

Interesting Argentina still picking a mix of first team and the squad players. World Cup group stages being selected on the December 2025 rankings I would think getting some points on the team placed behind you (well I guess after the result last week its switched now) when you know England understrength might be a better option.

I know they have the Rugby championship but that is a month away.

 

[Which Tyler]

Interesting Argentina still picking a mix of first team and the squad players. World Cup group stages being selected on the December 2025 rankings I would think getting some points on the team placed behind you (well I guess after the result last week its switched now) when you know England understrength might be a better option.

I know they have the Rugby championship but that is a month away.

Not to mention that the Raeburn Shield is up for grabs...

 

[Scotty]

Surely Murley should be starting starting over Muir, he showed what he can do in that last 20 min. He actually has real potential to be a regular where as Muir is just dont see it. He's good don't get me wrong.

No FH cover at all.

Is Ojomoh injured? Northmore is good but im surprised hes been picked.

 

[Scotty]

Actually thinking about it if your not having 10 cover why not start JVP and leave Spencer as 10 cover on the bench for the game.

 

[Which Tyler]

Actually thinking about it if your not having 10 cover why not start JVP and leave Spencer as 10 cover on the bench for the game.

For me, Spencer is one who starts or isn't in the 23

 

[IT157]

Surely Murley should be starting starting over Muir, he showed what he can do in that last 20 min. He actually has real potential to be a regular where as Muir is just dont see it. He's good don't get me wrong.

No FH cover at all.

Is Ojomoh injured? Northmore is good but im surprised hes been picked.

Yeah I don't see Muir as having the attributes for being a regular international. A good player in the Prem, but lacks the top pace, speed, and game breaking talent for the wing (internationally anyway).

Murley has far more promise and an X factor.

 

[Which Tyler]

Muir vs Murley is probably the usual trade off between an USP (Murley) versus an all-round game (Muir)
Though Muir kinda does have an USP - chasing kicks.
How does Borthwick feel about chasing kicks?

 

[BPM]

I like Northmore. When he’s fit and playing at 13 (not 12), he is probably the best centre at Quins. The problem is that his injury record is really poor in recent seasons. It’s possible he’s absolutely tearing it up in training but I’d have gone with Ojomoh or Beard on form, age profile and injury record.

 

[Ddanno]

I like Northmore. When he's fit and playing at 13 (not 12), he is probably the best centre at Quins. The problem is that his injury record is really poor in recent seasons. It's possible he's absolutely tearing it up in training but I'd have gone with Ojomoh or Beard on form, age profile and injury record.

Agreed, I didn't realise he was already 28. I'd much prefer one of the other two.