Steve Borthwick names his England team to play Argentina with Jonny May and Dan Cole set to start in their World Cup opener.
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Courtney Lawes is named captain at blindside flanker and is joined in the back row by the returning Tom Curry on the openside with Ben Earl at No.8.
In the front row, vice-captain Ellis Genge starts at loosehead prop with Jamie George at hooker and Dan Cole on the tighthead. Maro Itoje and Ollie Chessum are paired in the second row.
Alex Mitchell and vice-captain George Ford feature in the half-back berths, with inside centre Manu Tuilagi partnering Joe Marchant at 13. Jonny May lines up on the right wing, opposite Elliot Daly on the left, and Freddie Steward is at fullback.
The replacements are: Theo Dan, Joe Marler, Will Stuart, George Martin, Lewis Ludlam, Danny Care Marcus Smith, and Ollie Lawrence.
Borthwick said:
“With an excellent week of preparation in Le Touquet, the players are now looking forward to starting their Rugby World Cup campaign under the lights in Marseille on Saturday.
“After a number of impressive performances in the last 12 months by Argentina, we know that the first game in our pool will provide a stern test.
“This great tournament provides an excitingly special opportunity for our players, who I know, as ever, will be giving their all in front of our travelling support in the south of France.”
England team to play Argentina;
England: Steward; May, Marchant, Tuilagi, Daly; Ford, Mitchell; Genge, George, Cole; Itoje, Chessum; Lawes (capt), Curry, Earl.
Replacements: Dan, Marler, Stuart, Martin, Ludlam, Care, Smith, Lawrence.
The 100 best rugby players in the world have been named and ranked, Owen Farrell 63rd
With less than a fortnight remaining until the commencement of the Rugby World Cup, the rugby specialists at Telegraph Sport have collaboratively assessed and ranked the top 100 playersglobally.
Presented below is the comprehensive list, starting from the 100th spot and culminating at the first position.
100. Pierre Schoeman (Scotland)
99. Tommaso Menoncello (Italy)
98. Franco Mostert (South Africa)
97. Paul Alo-Emile (Samoa)
96. Sione Tuipulotu (Scotland)
95 Juan Martín González (Argentina)
94. Jasper Wiese (South Africa)
93. Damian Willemse (South Africa)
92. Mark Telea (New Zealand)
91. Faf de Klerk (South Africa)
90. Handré Pollard (South Africa)
89. James Lowe (Ireland)
88. Jamie Ritchie (Scotland)
87. Paul Willemse (France)
86. Shannon Frizell (New Zealand)
85. Freddie Steward (England)
They wrote: “The best England player to emerge in this four-year cycle, without question. Steward has come a long way from having to ditch a shift in Costa to turn out for Leicester in the Premiership Rugby Cup, to becoming England’s specialist diffuser under the high ball at full-back while hoovering up a number of awards. The potential is enormous, and he should thrive at his first World Cup.”
84. Thibaud Flament (France)
83. Duhan van der Merwe (Scotland)
82. Matthieu Jalibert (France)
81.. Jac Morgan (Wales)