| Venue: Marseille Stadium Date: Saturday, 9 September Start: 20:00 BST |
| Scope: Listen to live commentary on BBC Radio 5 Live, BBC Sounds and online; follow the text commentary on the BBC Sport website and app. |
Alex Mitchell and Jonny May will start for England in their World Cup opener against Argentina despite missing the former from the 33-man squad.
Scrum-half Mitchell and wing May were late additions to Steve Borthwick’s squad after Jack van Poortvliet and Anthony Watson were injured.
George Ford will start at fly-half alongside captain Owen Farrell banned for the first two pool games.
Flanker Tom Curry started his first game since the Premiership final in May.
Open-sided Curry, who started in the 2019 World Cup final loss to South Africa, has not played in England this summer after recovering from an ankle injury.
Ben Earl replaces Saracens team-mate Billy Vunipola, who is was suspended for the opening game following his red card against Ireland in England’s penultimate warm-up game, at number eight.
Courtney Lawes completes the blind-side back row and continues as captain in Farrell’s absence.
Veteran prop Dan Cole starts at tight end with Bath’s Will Stuart named among the substitutes.
“He [Cole] is one of those smart heads,” said Borthwick. “He doesn’t say much, but when he does you know it’s important. Time seems to stand still when he speaks.”
Wing Elliot Daly has recovered from a knee injury to join the 33-year-old May, who has 73 caps, and regular full-back Freddie Steward in the back three.
Harlequins’ Joe Marchant with Manu Tuilagi in midfield – as they do the loss of Ireland in Dublin.
Replacement scrum-half Danny Care, 36, was given the chance to watch Leicester Tigers’ Ben Youngs on the bench in what could be only his second World Cup appearance, having made his first against Uruguay in 2015.
England, who are ranked eighth in the world, have lost three of their four warm-up games leading up to the World Cup.
Borthwick’s side will also face Japan, Chile and Samoa in Pool D, with the top two teams progressing to the quarter-finals.
Mitchell wildcard
Before his injury, Leicester Tigers’ Van Poortvliet was Borthwick’s preferred scrum-half, starting every game in the Six Nations, with the 22-year-old known for his powerful kicking game.
Mitchell, 26, who is more of a running scrum-half, scored seven tries in the Premiership last season for Northampton Saints, but missed out on the initial 33-man squad.
“It’s a huge credit to Mitch [Mitchell] because he was very disappointed not to make the original 33-man squad,” added Borthwick.
“I asked every player I talked to at that point to leave and make sure they were ready to be the next guy.
“He’s trained well. He’s done what we’ve asked him to do — to make sure he’s ready to go.”
The scrum-half started England’s final warm-up game against Fiji, winning just his sixth cap, as Borthwick favored him ahead of veteran scrum-halves Care and Youngs.
With just five tries in four warm-up matches, England’s attack could need more energy and motivation, and Mitchell can help create “organized chaos” according to former England international Ugo Moyne.
Pumas have experience
Argentina, who won 30-29 against England at Twickenham last November, named an experienced team, including nine players in the starting XV with World Cup experience.
Premiership-based players include captain Julian Montoya from Leicester Tigers and Gloucester fly-half Santiago Carreras.
Replacement hooker Agustin Creevy, 38, will play in his fourth World Cup, joining Mario Ledesma, Felipe Contepomi and Martin Scelzo for the most tournaments featured by an Argentine.
The Sale Sharks hooker is part of the 6-2 split of forwards and backs selected on the bench by coach Michael Cheika.
Lines
England: Steward; May, Marchant, Tuilagi, Daly; Ford, Mitchell; Genge, George, Cole, Itoje, Chessum, Lawes (capt), Curry, Earl.
Substitutes: Dan, Marler, Stuart, Martin, Ludlam, Care, Smith, Lawrence.
Argentina: Mallia; Boffelli, Cinti, Chocobares, M Carreras; S Carreras, Bertranou; Gallo, Montoya (captain), Gomez Kodela, Lavanini, Alemanno, Martin Gonzalez, Kremer, Matera.
Substitutes: Creevy, Sclavi, Bello, Petti Pagadizabal, Rubiolo, Bruni, Bazan Velez, Moroni.
Pool D fixtures in England
Saturday, 9 September: England v Argentina (Stade de Marseille), 20:00 BST
Sunday, 17 September: England v Japan (Stade de Nice), 20:00
Saturday, 23 September: England v Chile (Stade Pierre-Mauroy, Lille), 16:45
Saturday 7 October: England v Samoa (Stade Pierre-Mauroy, Lille), 4:45 pm
