Is Steve Borthwick Missing a Trick in England’s Tour to Argentina?

England started their summer tour with an impressive 35-12 victory over Argentina in La Plata last weekend, a result that already hints at success for the series. However, questions remain over whether head coach Steve Borthwick is being too cautious with his team selection for the upcoming second Test in San Juan.

With 13 key players away on British and Irish Lions duty, Borthwick has done well to integrate fresh talent into the squad. Debutants Seb Atkinson, Will Muir, and Guy Pepper all impressed last weekend, proving they have the potential to compete at the international level. This blend of youth and experience is vital as England aims to climb the World Rugby rankings and build towards future Six Nations glory and the Rugby World Cup.

Despite this positive start, Borthwick’s team for the second Test features only one enforced change—the inclusion of Harlequins centre Luke Northmore, making his first appearance, in place of the injured Henry Slade. The rest of the lineup remains largely unchanged. This cautious approach raises concerns about missed opportunities to blood new players and learn how they perform under the intense pressure of Test rugby.

Several players, including Gloucester’s Arthur Clark, Charlie Atkinson, prop Afolabi Fasogbon, and Bath’s Ted Hill and Max Ojomoh, have yet to be tested in match conditions, despite traveling with the squad. While training with the national team is valuable, the true test of readiness comes in high-stakes matches against top-tier opposition like Argentina, currently ranked sixth in the world.

Although England dominated last weekend, Argentina remains a formidable opponent, and exposing emerging players to such challenges is crucial for their development. Relying too heavily on a settled starting XV risks missing vital chances to build depth ahead of major tournaments. Meanwhile, the upcoming fixture against the USA, ranked fifteenth and below struggling Wales, won’t provide the same rigorous test.

Only time will reveal whether Borthwick’s conservative strategy pays off, likely after the Rugby World Cup in two years. For now, many feel the coach might be playing it too safe, when bolder experimentation could accelerate England’s progress on the world stage.

England Starting XV (vs. Argentina): 15. Freddie Steward (Leicester Tigers, 37 caps)
14. Tom Roebuck (Sale Sharks, 5 caps)
13. Luke Northmore (Harlequins, uncapped)
12. Seb Atkinson (Gloucester Rugby, 1 cap)
11. Will Muir (Bath Rugby, 1 cap)
10. George Ford (Sale Sharks, 100 caps) – Co-captain
9. Ben Spencer (Bath Rugby, 9 caps)