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Pollock Benched as England Stick with Unchanged XV for Argentina Test

Despite a hat-trick against Fiji, Henry Pollock remains among the replacements as England's starting lineup for Saturday's clash with Argentina remains unchanged. Captain Jamie George is set to earn his 113th cap, moving him to fourth on England's all-time list.

  • England's starting XV for the Argentina match remains unchanged from the Fiji game.
  • Henry Pollock, despite a hat-trick last week, will start on the bench.
  • Jamie George will captain the side, earning his 113th cap.
  • Ben Spencer and Emmanuel Iyogun join the replacements, with Iyogun uncapped.

England Head Coach Steve Borthwick has opted for continuity, naming an unchanged starting XV for Saturday's Nations Championship fixture against Argentina in Santiago del Estero. This decision sees promising No 8 Henry Pollock, who scored a hat-trick in last week's commanding 73-8 victory over Fiji, once again starting from the bench.

The only alterations to the matchday squad come among the replacements, with Ben Spencer and the uncapped Northampton loosehead Emmanuel Iyogun joining the 23. Ben Earl retains his spot at No 8, with Guy Pepper at openside flanker. Bristol's Benhard van Rensburg and Saracens' Noah Caluori are once again designated as impact substitutes.

Jamie George will lead the side, earning his 113th England cap, a milestone that elevates him to fourth place on the all-time list of England's most-capped men's players. Coach Borthwick expressed anticipation for the upcoming challenge, stating, "We're excited by the challenge of playing Los Pumas in Santiago del Estero. We expect a fantastic atmosphere with passionate home support. It promises to be a great occasion, and one the players are excited to embrace."

Last week's dominant win against Fiji marked a significant turnaround for England, ending a run of five consecutive Test defeats. The team also boasts a strong recent record against Argentina, having secured a 2-0 series win last summer and another victory at home in November.

The full England team to face Argentina is: M Smith; Freeman, Slade, Atkinson, Feyi-Waboso; F Smith, Van Poortvliet; Genge, George (capt), Heyes, Coles, Martin, Chessum, Pepper, Earl. Replacements: Cowan-Dickie, Iyogun, Opoku-Fordjour, Curry, Pollock, Curry, Spencer, Van Rensburg, Caluori.

Why this matters: This decision highlights England's strategic approach to team selection, balancing form with established combinations as they continue their Nations Championship campaign. It will be interesting to see if Pollock can make an impact from the bench.

What this means for you: What this means for you: As a UK rugby fan, this provides insight into England's team selection and strategy for an important international match, influencing discussions and expectations for the team's performance.

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