How will England line up against Argentina?

Dylan Hartley will captain England in Argentina in June. The tour is to coincide with the British & Irish Lions series against New Zealand.

Head Coach Eddie Jones named his roster to face Los Pumas the day after Warren Gatland confirmed his 41-man Lions squad. Jones is without the services of 17 players whom have been included by Gatland. This did not stop Jones declaring that the aim is to return home with a 2-0 series win.

The two-match tour will see England playing in San Juan and Santa Fé. The venues are new to England. Never before have the English played in either city. Previous tours have tended to be centered on Buenos Aires. But in 2009 and 2013 Salta hosted tests.

How will England lineup against Argentina? Missing are to be forwards Joe Marler, Mako Vunipola, Jamie George, Dan Cole, Kyle Sinckler, Maro Itoje, George Kruis, Courtney Lawes and Billy Vunipola. Effected positions include all spots aside from flanker.

In the backs Gatland has named Ben Youngs, Owen Farrell, Elliot Daly, Jonathan Joseph, Ben Te’o, Jack Nowell and Anthony Watson. They cover all positions, some though as utility rather than specialist players.

Daly started against Argentina in November. He was infamously red carded in the match. Jones had him playing out of position on the wing. Gatland, meanwhile, has selected him as an outside center.

Anthony Watson has 26 tests for England, 24 have been starting. All of these have been on the wing. He is, nonetheless, a player commonly considered as being well-suited to fullback. Watson scored a double against Uruguay in Rugby World Cup 2015.

First choice players not involved in the Lions include captain, Dylan Hartley. His is certain to lead the team from hooker. The shock Lions omission, from an English standpoint,  is Joe Launchbury. He appears certain to start at lock. Regulars Chris Robshaw and James Haskell will be the flankers.

With Billy Vunipola out for much of the Six Nations the nationalized Fijian, Nathan Hughes started for England. He will do so again in Argentina. The remaining starting forwards are likely to be Charlie Ewels, Ellie Genge and Paul Hill. All have prior caps for England.

In the backs the 71-time capped Danny Care will slot in at scrum half. Care is to form a halves combination with Jones’ first choice fly half, George Ford. Additional familiar faces will be Mike Brown at fullback and Jonny May on the left wing.

The starting centers loom as being Harry Mallinder and Henry Slade. Of them the former is uncapped while the latter started against Uruguay in 2015. Completing the possible starting lineup is Nathan Earle, an uncapped player in fine form for Saracens.

Although it is a lineup missing players to the British & Irish Lions it is, nonetheless, a strong side. Depth may not be questioned though it may well be among the replacements. Nick Isiekwe, Jack Maunder, Alex Lozowski, Denny Solomona, Sam Underhill and Harry Williams are all uncapped.

Possible England Team
1 Ellis Genge, 2 Dylan Hartley (capt.), 3 Paul Hill, 4 Joe Launchbury, 5 Charlie Ewels, 6 Chris Robshaw, 7 James Haskell, 8 Nathan Hughes, 9 Danny Care, 10 George Ford, 11 Jonny May, 12 Harry Mallinder, 13 Henry Slade, 14 Nathan Earle, 15 Mike Brown

Replacements: 16 Luke Cowan-Dickie, 17 Matt Mullan, 18 Harry Williams, 19 Nick Isiekwe, 20 Sam Underhill, 21 Jack Maunder, 22 Alex Lozowski, 23 Denny Solomona