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England recall second row George Kruis to face Argentina

Last updated on .From the section Rugby Unioncomments77

George Kruis
Kruis was an ever-present in the England side in 2016 before being ruled out of the autumn Tests
Old Mutual Wealth Series: England v Argentina
Date: Saturday, 26 November Kick-off: 14:30 GMT Venue: Twickenham
Coverage: Live text and radio commentary on BBC Sport website and BBC Radio 5 live

Saracens second row George Kruis will start for England against Argentina as coach Eddie Jones makes four changes for Saturday's match at Twickenham.

Kruis had ankle surgery less than a month ago but will replace the suspended Joe Launchbury in the third leg of England's autumn series.

Flanker Tom Wood, full-back Mike Brown and winger Jonny May all return after missing last week's win over Fiji.

May replaces Semesa Rokoduguni, man-of-the-match against Fiji.

Elliot Daly gets another start on the left wing, rather than his normal position of centre, while Teimana Harrison is named among the replacements in place of Nathan Hughes, who has a leg injury.

England have already beaten South Africa and Fiji in the autumn series, taking their record under Jones to 11 wins and no defeats.

"This game against Argentina is a big step up for us as they were probably the second best team in the Rugby Championship and played some exceptional rugby," Jones said.

"They are a quality team, have power in the forwards, speed and guile in the backs as well as great experience.

"We appreciate they have threats across the field and they have always been a physical, tough side. They still have their set-piece armoury in the scrum and line-outs so we're looking forward to a great game of rugby against them."

England team to face Argentina:

Brown; May, Joseph, Farrell, Daly; Ford, Youngs; Vunipola, Hartley (capt), Cole, Lawes, Kruis, Robshaw, Wood, Vunipola.

Replacements: George, Marler, Sinckler, Ewels, Harrison, Care, Te'o, Slade.

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77 comments

  • Comment posted by inmyopinion, at 13:13 24 Nov 2016

    Hope Slade gets more game time this week.

  • Comment posted by RA, at 13:53 24 Nov 2016

    Little bit worried about Argentina - they haven't had their performance yet, and it'll come at some point.

    Got to say though - for the squad to contain the flair of Slade, Daly, Joseph, May & (most importantly) Ford, the tacticality (no such word I know) of Owen F & Kruis, the leadership of Hartley, the strength of Cole, the mentality of Robshaw & Brown etc. etc - I'm pretty excited these days.

  • Comment posted by Bill T, at 14:55 24 Nov 2016

    I love the subtle dig at Australia in there calling Argentina the 2nd best team in the 4 nations. He's getting his Cheika baiting in early.

  • Comment posted by Rimbo, at 13:28 24 Nov 2016

    For me, I'm just really excited to see the strength in depth England currently have. We have lost a number of world class players recently, but are still fortunate enough to be able to fill their places with other great players! Looking forward to another couple of great games at HQ in the coming weeks!!

  • Comment posted by FlorenceOnly, at 17:07 24 Nov 2016

    No real surprises here. Flatters Argentina to see them as the second best side in the Rugby Championship as their form on this tour has been patchy at best.

    Tuilagi in danger of becoming England's Gavin Henson. The game is moving on from 'crash it up' - just look how well this is working for Wales (Jamie Roberts dropped again as he never seems to pass..)

  • Comment posted by User0302385138, at 16:40 24 Nov 2016

    Am I alone in wondering if Manu Tuilagi is going to end up being yesterday's man in the England set-up?

    He's made cameo appearances between recurrent injury but the England centre crisis seems to have abated and the incumbents look good. I could be wrong but I also wonder if Manu might also find that he's also playing yesterday's game now that Warrenball is being eclipsed by a faster style.

  • Comment posted by TheLastKingOfEngland, at 13:52 24 Nov 2016

    @7 Think you must be the only person asking for Goode over Brown. The hash he made of the first kick was a sign of the poor day he had.

    Seems like the best team to me. I'm a little worried that our scrum has stalled at times, and Aregentina's looks strong, but it's hard to see passed an England win here.

  • Comment posted by jason, at 16:54 24 Nov 2016

    @34 Anglophone - agreed a year ago we were crying out for a world class centre - Jones forced to go to Ford, Farrell through necessity and its been a revelation. Manu in top form would still get in the team but can he recapture that - unlikely. The Best thing for him is to play the remainder of the season out for the Tigers with no international call up talk and see where he is come May.

  • Comment posted by Nimrod2, at 17:15 24 Nov 2016

    37 Wilko1979
    I think you need to temper things down a bit. There will be setbacks on the way to 2019 and the margin between ecstasy & despair is not that great at this level.

    But the side is on a run & it is basically very young. There are also some good young players coming through to add to the competition for places & the U18s & U20s look pretty impressive. The future looks very promising.

  • Comment posted by TheLastKingOfEngland, at 17:58 24 Nov 2016

    Anyway my predictions for the weekends games.

    England by 14
    Scotland by 12
    Ireland by 7
    South Africa by 3

    I'd love to see a clean sweep for the home nations, but as poor as SA are at the moment Wales are worse.

    A narrow last minute win against a Japan 2nd string?

  • Comment posted by User0179626629, at 08:11 25 Nov 2016

    50. Steve S

    Those dissing Manu as past it/game moved on ...He'll be back!
    __

    Yes, he'll be back for about 5 minutes before he injured again. He has had his day for country and possibly club. Shrugging off 3 AB doesn't automatically make him the Messiah.

    Put things into perspective, England are doing fine without him and building a mid-field around him is very risky. Ask Lancaster.

  • Comment posted by User0518347797, at 17:19 24 Nov 2016

    @7Semper Veritas (Non verax)

    "Could have been even better with Goode"

    This is running rugby with full tackling. Goode is way too slow and a liability in defence. Good club player - nothing more, and will struggle to get into his club team once Saracens have bought Liam Williams.

  • Comment posted by User0829327320, at 17:01 24 Nov 2016

    England are better than reasonable: 12 games unbeaten, Grand slam champions, 3-0 whitewash in Oz and ranked 2nd in the world.

  • Comment posted by User0302385138, at 15:36 24 Nov 2016

    Semper Veritas/LKOE

    Respectfully, I now rate Goode as the better player. Granted he fluffed his first kick but he's human. He offers great ball-handling skill in attack whereas Brown (who I rate) is becoming very, very predictable.

    Basically I don't think he's the player now that he was 2 - 3 years ago whilst Goode seems to have gained a yard from somewhere.

    Lucky we don't pick the team?

  • Comment posted by User0243924309, at 15:41 24 Nov 2016

    We are still short of a tight head prop, open side flanker and inside centre but I think England are a reasonable side who will give anyone a game.

  • Comment posted by wallywalnut, at 07:22 25 Nov 2016

    It's interesting to read (most of the) various opinions. Facts is facts however - Jones is closest to the situation and has got it right so far - may (pun not intended) it long continue. I'm just watching England play and win and enjoying it more than I have for years!

  • Comment posted by curlydave, at 15:08 24 Nov 2016

    16 I like Brown, but Goode is the better player. You missed the biggest difference tho. Brown doesn't pass because he carries the ball under one arm 99% of the time, so can't pass it! Schoolboy mistake. Re Roko, he is a bit unlucky, but he too needs to look to link up instead of getting tackled by the last man.

  • Comment posted by Rugbyman, at 15:16 24 Nov 2016

    when we beat the All Blacks in 2012 Goode was full back and Brown was on the wing. Saying that I don't think Brown can beat a man now like he could then. Brown will be 34/35 by next world cup and that's why he's playing Daly on the wing, to give him experience and for him or Watson to take over as full back long term. All my rugby mates thought roko was v poor in defence.

  • Comment posted by Lewbop777, at 14:50 24 Nov 2016

    Really concerned about Mako's scrummaging... he's superb in the loose. I thought he did struggle against the Boks at the beginning of the game. Think EJ would be better off putting on Marler first and then letting Mako loose towards the end of the game...??? Only my thoughts - not a Quins fan

  • Comment posted by tomlk74, at 13:34 24 Nov 2016

    Still not sure how Harrison is near this team- even with the injuries. Looked average against Fiji and been ineffective all season for Saints

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