Chiefs duo in England squad

By Mark Stevens
9/11/17

Exeter Chiefs duo Henry Slade and Harry Williams have both been named in Eddie Jones' England side to face Argentina in the opening Old Mutual Wealth Series match at Twickenham on Saturday (3pm).

Slade will win his eighth international cap when he starts the fixture in the role of inside centre alongside Bath's Jonathan Joseph, while Williams will be aiming to win his third cap, should he come off the bench.

Playmaker Slade is one of seven players - Mike Brown (Harlequins), George Ford (Leicester Tigers), Dylan Hartley (Northampton Saints), Nathan Hughes (Wasps), Chris Robshaw (Harlequins) and Sam Underhill (Bath Rugby) - who started in England’s last Test against Argentina in June to retain their place this weekend.

Elliot Daly (Wasps) will start on the left wing after Jonny May (Leicester Tigers) did not recover in time from his hamstring injury. Daly is joined by Dan Cole (Leicester Tigers), Courtney Lawes (Northampton Saints), Mako Vunipola (Saracens) and Anthony Watson (Bath Rugby) who all last played for England during the successful 2017 RBS 6 Nations campaign.

Eddie Jones said: “As a squad we have been preparing for this game since our first camp in August and are excited about playing in front of 82,000 fans at Twickenham Stadium on Saturday.”

“This is our best 23 selected in what is our most important game this year. We know that Argentina is a strong team - Rugby World Cup semi finalists in 2015 – and we will have to be smart and play well to beat them.”

England team to play Argentina

15 Mike Brown (Harlequins 62 caps)
14 Anthony Watson (Bath Rugby 26 caps)
13 Jonathan Joseph (Bath Rugby 33 caps)
12 Henry Slade (Exeter Chiefs 7 caps)
11 Elliot Daly (Wasps 13 caps)
10 George Ford (Bath Rugby 37 caps)
9 Ben Youngs (Leicester Tigers 70 caps)
1 Mako Vunipola (Saracens 42 caps)
2 Dylan Hartley (Northampton Saints 86 caps, capt)
3 Dan Cole (Leicester Tigers 74 caps)
4 Courtney Lawes (Northampton Saints 58 caps)
5 George Kruis (Saracens 20 caps)
6 Chris Robshaw (Harlequins 56 caps)
7 Sam Underhill (Bath Rugby 1 cap)
8 Nathan Hughes (Wasps 10 caps)

16 Jamie George (Saracens 17 caps)
17 Ellis Genge (Leicester Tigers 3 caps)
18 Harry Williams (Exeter Chiefs 2 caps)
19 Joe Launchbury (Wasps 44 caps)
20 Tom Curry (Sale Sharks 1 cap)
21 Danny Care (Harlequins 73 caps)
22 Alex Lozowski (Saracens 2 caps)
23 Semesa Rokoduguni (Bath Rugby 2 caps)