 England get their Rugby World Cup 2023 campaign underway on Saturday with a Pool D clash against Argentina. Steve Borthwick's side could hardly have endured a more disastrous and chaotic build-up to the biggest tournament in the game and expectations surrounding the 2019 runners-up are at an all-time low. England suffered their first-ever defeat to Fiji in a warm-up game at Twickenham last month and their form post their fourth-placed finish at the Six Nations has also seen them lose to Wales and Ireland. However, that is only half the story of their woeful World Cup preparations, with Owen Farrell and Billy Vunipola handed bans for high tackles committed against Wales and Ireland respectively. Farrell will be forced to sit out the Argentina game and the following week's meeting with Japan, whilst Vunipola will be sidelined for the clash with the South Americans. However, victory over the World Cup dark horse – managed by former Australia coach Michael Cheika – will go a long way to settling English nerves and lifting the public mood around the national team. What time does England vs Argentina kick-off? The game will kick-off on Saturday, September 9 at 8pm BST. England have been put through their paces in training (Picture: Dan Mullan/Getty Images) The venue will be the Stade Velodrome in Marseille. What TV channel will it be one? England vs Argentina will be shown live on ITV from 7.15pm. Fans will also be able to tune-in on live stream via ITVX. ITV will have live TV coverage of all 48 matches from the Rugby World Cup over the next seven weeks. When is the England team announced? The England XV to face Argentina is expected to be announced on Thursday. Alongside the suspended Farrell and Vunipola, Borthwick will be without Jack van Poortvliet and Anthony Watson who have both withdrawn from the squad in recent weeks through injury. Elliot Daly, Tom){kind=link}
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England get their Rugby World Cup 2023 campaign underway on Saturday with a Pool D clash against Argentina.
Steve Borthwick’s side could hardly have endured a more disastrous and chaotic build-up to the biggest tournament in the game and expectations surrounding the 2019 runners-up are at an all-time low.
England suffered their first-ever defeat to Fiji in a warm-up game at Twickenham last month and their form post their fourth-placed finish at the Six Nations has also seen them lose to Wales and Ireland.
However, that is only half the story of their woeful World Cup preparations, with Owen Farrell and Billy Vunipola handed bans for high tackles committed against Wales and Ireland respectively.