England’s starting team for their Autumn Nations Series opener against Argentina sees Alex Coles make his international debut.
According to the Evening Standard, the 23-year-old Northampton back-five forward ‘is expected to step into club-mate Courtney Lawes’ blindside flanker’ spot at Twickenham this weekend.
Owen Farrell will regain captaincy in Lawes’ absence, with England expecting the 31-year-old to complete his return-to-play protocols after concussion and start at inside centre.
Check out the full expected starting team for the clash with Argentina below.
FULL CONFIRMED ENGLAND TEAM HERE:
Leaked England XV:
Back-three:
- 15. Freddie Steward (Leicester Tigers)
- 14. Jack Nowell (Exeter Chiefs)
- 11. Joe Cokanasiga (Bath RFC)
DID YOU KNOW?
- In May 2022 Steward was named as the Rugby Players’ Association Player’s Young player of the year and England men’s player of the season
- In April 2017, Nowell was called up for the 2017 British & Irish Lions tour to New Zealand, becoming the first player to be selected from Exeter Chiefs by the Lions
- Cokanasiga was born in Fiji but before his third birthday, moved to England with his father, Ilaitia, who was in the British Army
Centres:
- 13. Manu Tuilagi (Sale Sharks)
- 12. Owen Farrell (Saracens)
DID YOU KNOW?
- He was named Manusamoa, after the name of the Samoan national team, Manu Samoa, because his brother Freddie was selected for Samoa at the World Cup in 1991, the year Manu was born
- Farrell celebrates every point he scores by linking his index fingers together to make a ‘JJ’ sign, the Joining Jack salute, Joining Jack being a charity dedicated to the needs of sufferers of Duchenne muscular dystrophy