Daly back from broken arm as England change six for Pumas

Daly back from broken arm as England change six for Pumas

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Quilter Nations Series: England v Argentina

Elliot Daly will play for the first time since breaking his arm on British & Irish Lions duty in June as he starts on the wing for England against Argentina on Sunday.

The 33-year-old replaces Tom Roebuck, who suffered a foot injury in last weekend’s 33-19 win over New Zealand.

Daly’s inclusion is one of six changes to the starting XV as coach Steve Borthwick, whose hand is partly forced by injury, experiments with more combinations.

Henry Slade makes his first England start since February with outside centre Ollie Lawrence ruled out with a hamstring problem.

Elsewhere, there is an all-new front row with Ellis Genge and Luke Cowan-Dickie recalled alongside Asher Opoku-Fordjour, who makes only his second Test start.

Ben Spencer starts at scrum-half, while Theo Dan is named on the bench with Saracens team-mate Jamie George ruled out with hamstring trouble.

England team to face Argentina

England: Steward; Feyi-Waboso, Slade, Dingwall, Daly; Ford, Spencer; Genge, Cowan-Dickie, Opoku-Fordjour, Itoje, Coles, Pepper, Underhill, Earl.

England are chasing an 11th successive victory to round off a hugely encouraging 2025 in style.

Argentina are aiming to complete a hat-trick of wins on their northern hemisphere tour, having thrashed Wales 52-28 and fought back to overcome Scotland 33-24 last weekend.

Experience, versatility and long-range boot

Elliot DalyGetty Images

Daly had impressed in the early stages of the Lions’ tour to Australia this summer and, with Ireland rival Hugo Keenan struggling with sickness, had staked his claim as a possible starting Test full-back.

However an innocuous collision with Queensland Reds’ Jock Campbell in the team’s second tour match, left Daly’s right forearm with a fracture running the length of the bone.

“I could feel that it was all wobbly and clicking,” he told the Times of his short-lived attempt to play on.

Daly required 16 screws and a metal plate to be inserted to fix the injury and, although he has yet to make his comeback for Saracens, he has been part of England’s training camp this autumn.

Elliot Daly with Ben Spencer and George FordGetty Images

Analysis

BBC rugby union correspondent Chris Jones:

Steve Borthwick is managing to both win matches and build depth at the moment; a perfect position for an international head coach to be in, especially halfway through a Rugby World Cup cycle.

Elliot Daly’s return to fitness is most welcome as it gives England another ball-playing option in the back three, while it’s a big afternoon for Henry Slade, who gets a chance for the first time this month and will be keen to prove he remains a key part of the midfield picture.

Related topics

  • England Rugby Union
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Source: BBC

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