One final hit out for England and Argentina as the two nations collide at Allianz Stadium, Twickenham in their respective last games of the year.<\/p>\n
The hosts head into the match looking to continue their winning run, with the opportunity to win their 11th successive Test<\/a>, which includes two wins over Los Pumas earlier this year.<\/p>\n Meanwhile, Argentina<\/a> chase history as they look to close out a memorable year by winning all of their November internationals for the first time ever.<\/p>\n Felipe Contepomi\u2019s charges beat the British and Irish Lions, All Blacks and Wallabies earlier this year before notching up wins over Wales and Scotland, with the Springboks and England<\/a> being the only two nations that they have faced and failed to beat in 2025.<\/p>\n Those results mean that they will finish inside the top six of the World Rugby rankings in time for the draw early next month, a favourable position for the seedings.<\/p>\n As for Steve Borthwick\u2019s men, they have been in rampant form this year, building depth while still winning, setting themselves up well not only for the draw but for the World Cup itself.<\/p>\n Where the game will be won<\/p>\n The battlegrounds will be drawn at the set-pieces and on the gain-line, with both sides possessing incredible athletes, particularly in the packs.<\/p>\n Then there is the battle in the air, a growing theme of the international game since the outlawing of the escorts. Argentina have been fantastic in the air and England have talented outside backs to combat that strength.<\/p>\n While those facets of the game will undoubtedly be crucial, particularly in the scrums where England seemingly have a massive advantage, the main deciding factor will certainly be the impact off the bench.<\/p>\n The \u2018Pom Squad\u2019 has stolen the headlines this November with the likes of Henry Pollock, Tom Curry, Marcus Smith and co. inspiring wins over Australia, Fiji and the All Blacks.<\/p>\n Similarly, Los Pumas\u2019 Bomb Squad overturned a 21-point deficit at Murrayfield last weekend. Pablo Matera and Thomas Gallo were magnificent in the Scottish capital, with the former tasked with replicating that impact on Sunday, and the same applies to Santiago Carreras, who masterminded Scotland\u2019s demise.<\/p>\n Last time they met<\/p>\n What they said<\/p>\n After a famous come-from-behind win over Scotland, Contepomi turned his attention to a clean sweep of the United Kingdom but did not play down the challenge that Borthwick\u2019s charges pose.<\/p>\n \u201cThis was a huge challenge for us,\u201d said Contepomi. \u201cWhen we have come to the UK before, there were a few times when we won two games, but not very often. Every now and then we win one, but we have never won three in a row in the UK.<\/p>\n \u201cScotland are one of the teams with the highest-octane intensity of rugby when they have the ball, so we knew it would be a massive challenge.<\/p>\n \u201cIt will be a different challenge next week against England. The challenge will be huge because they are probably the most on-form team in the world at the moment, bar maybe South Africa. They are world champions and know how to win games, but on form, it is probably England.\u201d<\/p>\n England team: Five takeaways as \u2018karma\u2019 favours rookie and Pom squad \u2018craze\u2019 continues<\/a><\/p>\n Elliot Daly\u2019s inclusion in the starting line-up to face Argentina was the main talking point of the much-changed matchday 23.<\/p>\n Borthwick spoke glowingly of the Saracens star, stating that he is in fantastic shape and could well play a key role at the World Cup in 2027.<\/p>\n \u201cI think he is in as good a shape as I have ever seen him,\u201d Borthwick said.<\/p>\n \u201cI think he hit very close to his fastest speed ever the other day in training\u2026 he can\u2019t wait to go. So I\u2019ve no doubt [about] the next couple of years until the World Cup. Somebody who reads the game as well as him can go even beyond that.<\/p>\n \u201cI always think those smart players can keep playing even later in their careers, because they have such intelligence about the game. I think Elliot\u2019s in that category.\u201d<\/p>\n The head coach also revealed that he contacted World Rugby referee boss Joel Jutge as well as Phil Davies, seeking clarity on how French referee Pierre Brousset officiates certain areas of the game.<\/p>\n \u201cFrom my point of view, the relationship we have with World Rugby and understanding the officiating is excellent,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n \u201cThe referee has reviewed our games and has been really clear in his feedback with us on things we\u2019re doing well and things he would like us to tend to. We go into this weekend really clear about what they\u2019re after.\u201d<\/p>\n Nigel Owens explains why All Blacks star was correctly yellow carded against England despite criticism from ex-players<\/a><\/p>\n Players to watch<\/p>\n Borthwick has been forced into a late change to the team named earlier this week, with Max Ojomoh replacing Fraser Dingwall. The Bath star earns just his second Test cap after debuting against the USA earlier this year as he combines with Henry Slade in the centres. Ojomoh played a pivotal role in ending Bath\u2019s 29-year Premiership title drought during the 2024-25 season, and now he gets his opportunity to really stamp his mark at Test level, albeit due to the plethora of injuries to the midfield.<\/p>\n Arguably the form Test fly-half in the world, George Ford, inspired the stunning win over the All Blacks and was just as compelling in beating Australia. The 32-year-old has beaten the likes of Fin Smith and Marcus Smith for the starting number 10 jersey and will be eager to end November on the same note he started it.<\/p>\n Staying in the backline and Borthwick has backed Elliot Daly to hit the ground sprinting in his first game since the British and Irish Lions tour. The versatile back was in fantastic form for the Lions in Australia before injury curtailed his bid to feature in the Tests, and he hasn\u2019t played since. Daly starts on the wing and will go toe-to-toe with the excellent Rodrigo Isgr\u00f3.<\/p>\n Lastly, all eyes will be on rising star Asher Opoku-Fordjour, who earns his first start at tighthead prop for his country. The 21-year-old is on course to be a regular feature in the squad for the years to come, and this will be his first outing against a tier one nation. A real litmus test for the rookie.<\/p>\n As for Los Pumas, Contepomi has rested the truly world-class Santiago Chocobares and handed a start to Justo Piccardo, who heads into the fixture off the back of a stunning cameo against Scotland last weekend, scoring a crucial try in the come-from-behind victory.<\/p>\n In the pack, Marcos Kremer returns to the matchday squad, bringing his usual ballast to the Pumas pack. The back-rower is simply one of the best of the best in international rugby, bringing a relentless work-rate on both sides of the ball and equally impressive physicality and aggression that few can match. If Argentina are to end England\u2019s winning streak, Kremer will undoubtedly play a mammoth role in doing just that.<\/p>\n The same applies to Pablo Matera and Santiago Carreras, who have been named on Argentina\u2019s bench. The match\u2019s outcome is bound to be decided by the eight replacements, and the experienced Pumas pair have what it takes to inspire Argentina\u2019s victory.<\/p>\n England team: Winners & losers as Steve Borthwick\u2019s \u2018smart ploy\u2019 for rising star while undercooked veteran pips speedy duo<\/a><\/p>\n Prediction<\/p>\n Sunday\u2019s encounter will be the 23rd time that England have faced the same team three or more times in a single year. History is against Borthwick\u2019s men as they have only recorded a 100% win rate four times (4\/4 v Australia in 2016, 3\/3 v Argentina in 2013, 3\/3 v Argentina in 2017, and 3\/3 v Wales in 2003).<\/p>\n While England are in a rich vein of form, they face off against a Pumas outfit that have produced a fair share of upsets in recent times. They claimed their first-ever win over the All Blacks in Argentina, and that came after overcoming the British and Irish Lions, doing so without many of their star men.<\/p>\n The return of Tomas Albornoz is a massive boost for Los Pumas, and Contepomi has a powerhouse pack that can go toe-to-toe with the mighty English. The main concern for Argentina will be their scrum, and if they can stay on the right side of Brousset\u2019s whistle, they might just claim another famous win.<\/p>\n This encounter is bound to be on a knife-edge, and Argentina have usually risen to the occasion when they are emotionally driven. After the win over the All Blacks, England pundits rued the fact that Borthwick\u2019s men wouldn\u2019t be facing the Springboks this November. Those comments won\u2019t have escaped the attention of Contepomi, his staff and players.<\/p>\n This one is bound to be decided by less than a converted try, and we predict that England\u2019s winning streak will be emphatically ended by the Pumas, claiming a five-point victory at Allianz Stadium.<\/p>\n