The wishful thinking that if England beat Argentina it will be a cakewalk from Pool D into the knock-out stages took a kicking last weekend. A Samoa side stacked with Premiership and Top 14 players forced a strong Ireland team to dig deep for a 17-13 win in Bayonne.
The question is whether England can pick a 23 to beat Argentina. To do so the pack will have to get the upper hand at the set-piece, especially as the lineout drive is their best attacking weapon. The best bet is to start with their strongest scrummagers, which means picking Joe Marler and Dan Cole for the first hour with Jamie George, England's most accurate thrower, at hooker.
I would move Ben Earl to openside, with Courtney Lawes at blindside, and start with Jack Willis standing in at No.8, with Lewis Ludlam on the bench.
My other main change is to bring Marcus Smith in at fly-half, and use him to launch Manu Tuilagi at the channel of Pumas fly-half, Santiago Carreras. Then utilise Smith's pace and footwork to attack off the quick ball it generates.
My England team to play Argentina is: Steward; Arundell, Marchant, Tuilagi, May; Smith, Mitchell; Marler, George, Cole, Itoje, Chessum, Lawes (capt), Earl, Willis.
Bench: Dan, Genge, Stuart, Ribbans, Ludlam, Care, Ford, Malins.
