Former WP lock set for England debut against Argentina
TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: A former Western Province player has been included in England’s matchday squad for the clash against Argentina on Sunday.
That player is uncapped lock David Ribbans, who has been named on the bench.
The 27-year-old represented WP between 2015 and 2016 before moving to Northampton Saints in 2017.
Meanwhile, Owen Farrell has been restored to the England captaincy for Sunday’s match at Twickenham.
Loose forward Courtney Lawes, England’s most recent skipper, has been ruled out of their November international opener with concussion.
Inside centre Farrell has been passed fit following a concussion suffered while playing for Saracens and takes his place in a first-choice England midfield featuring flyhalf Marcus Smith and powerhouse outside centre Manu Tuilagi, whose Test career has been blighted by injury.
Farrell last captained England against Australia in November last year, when he suffered an ankle injury.
He then sustained another ankle injury that kept him out of the 2022 Six Nations before he returned for England’s victorious tour of Australia.
Following the match against Argentina, one of England’s pool opponents at next year’s World Cup in France, Jones’s men face Japan, New Zealand and world champions South Africa on successive weekends at Twickenham.
England: 15 Freddie Steward, 14 Jack Nowell, 13 Manu Tuilagi, 12 Owen Farrell (captain), 11 Joe Cokanasiga, 10 Marcus Smith, 9 Ben Youngs, 8 Billy Vunipola, 7 Tom Curry, 6 Maro Itoje, 5 Jonny Hill, 4 Alex Coles, 3 Kyle Sinckler, 2 Luke Cowan-Dickie, 1 Ellis Genge.
Replacements: 16 Jack Singleton, 17 Mako Vunipola, 18 Joe Heyes, 19 David Ribbans, 20 Sam Simmonds, 21 Jack Willis, 22 Jack van Poortvliet, 23 Henry Slade.
Date: Sunday, November 6
Venue: Twickenham Stadium, London
Kick-off: 14.15 (14.15 GMT; 11.15 ART)
Referee: Andrew Brace (Ireland)
Assistant referees: Frank Murphy (Ireland), Pierre Brousset (France)
TMO: Marius Jonker (South Africa)
