England's Injury Concerns Mount for Pumas Finale
England's management is facing a tense week as they monitor the fitness of centre Ollie Lawrence ahead of their final autumn international against Argentina this Sunday. The powerful midfielder became an injury concern after limping off in the dying moments of Saturday's impressive victory over New Zealand at Twickenham.
Twickenham Triumph Tempered by Fresh Worries
Despite a standout performance where he scored a crucial first-half try against the All Blacks, Lawrence's game ended prematurely. His late exit saw a reshuffle in the English backline, with number eight Chandler Cunningham-South entering the fray and Ben Earl shifting positions to cover the final moments. The potential absence of Lawrence is compounded by the confirmed unavailability of fellow centre Tommy Freeman for the weekend's fixture, leaving coach Steve Borthwick with potential selection headaches.
Borthwick will be hoping for positive news on Lawrence ahead of Friday's team announcement. The injury list doesn't end there, as lock Ollie Chessum is also expected to miss the Argentina match. There is a potential boost, however, with utility back Elliot Daly in contention to return for the first time since this summer's British and Irish Lions tour.
Building Consistency Against a 'Dynamic' Argentina
A victory against the South Americans would see England secure a remarkable 11th consecutive Test win, a feat that would cement their recent progress. Centre Fraser Dingwall emphasised the team's focus on maintaining their high standards. "We don't want to be a team that peaks and has one brilliant performance or has a massive spike," Dingwall stated. "If you want to truly be the team that we want to be you've got to do it every single week."
Dingwall was full of praise for the upcoming opponents, acknowledging the significant challenge they present. "They're a great side, they've got some unbelievable players," he said. "They're a dynamic team, they're physical with their forwards but their backs are able to move the ball nicely. It's not a challenge we're going to take lightly, it's a proper test."
Future Fixtures: Nations Championship Confirmed
Looking further ahead, the future schedule for England is taking shape with the confirmation of plans for the new globe-trotting Nations Championship. In a demanding series of fixtures scheduled for next July, England are set to face the Springboks and Fiji in South Africa, before embarking on a long-haul flight to Argentina for back-to-back Tests against the Pumas.
