RWC19: Mako returns for England

Mako Vunipola will make his first appearance at the 2019 Rugby World Cup when England face Argentina on Saturday.

The Saracens prop has been sidelined with a hamstring injury since his country's warm-up match against Ireland in August and returns as a replacement this weekend as Eddie Jones' side look to make it three wins from three in Pool C.

When Mako features, all eight of England's Sarries will have had minutes at RWC19.

Owen Farrell is reinstated at inside centre and resumes the captaincy, and Elliot Daly remains at full-back.

Lock George Kruis partners club teammate Maro Itoje in the boiler and Jamie George heads up that scrum triangle at hooker.

Number 8 Billy Vunipola begins his third match of the tournament and seventh game in a row.

Jones said: “We are in Tokyo for the first time and the players are excited to be here and have had a good week’s preparation so far. We know Argentina are a very good team and our players will be ready for the game.  

“Argentina is a completely different team from others we have played so far in the pool stages and are always about the physical contest. This week it’s about getting our game right, our set piece in a good place and making sure defensively we are organised and ready to find ways to score points against them.”

England starting XV
15 Elliot Daly (Saracens, 35 caps)
14 Anthony Watson (Bath Rugby, 38 caps)
13 Manu Tuilagi (Leicester Tigers, 36 caps)
12 Owen Farrell (Saracens, 75 caps) C
11 Jonny May (Leicester Tigers, 48 caps)
10 George Ford (Leicester Tigers, 61 caps)
9 Ben Youngs (Leicester Tigers, 91 caps)
1 Joe Marler (Harlequins, 64 caps)
2 Jamie George (Saracens, 41 caps)
3 Kyle Sinckler (Harlequins, 27 caps)
4 Maro Itoje (Saracens, 30 caps)
5 George Kruis (Saracens, 37 caps)
6 Tom Curry (Sale Sharks, 15 caps)
7 Sam Underhill (Bath Rugby, 11 caps)
8 Billy Vunipola (Saracens, 47 caps)

Finishers
16 Luke Cowan-Dickie (Exeter Chiefs, 17 caps)
17 Mako Vunipola (Saracens, 54 caps)
18 Dan Cole (Leicester Tigers, 91 caps)
19 Courtney Lawes (Northampton Saints, 77 caps)
20 Lewis Ludlam (Northampton Saints, 4 caps)
21 Willi Heinz (Gloucester Rugby, 6 caps)
22 Henry Slade (Exeter Chiefs, 23 caps)
23 Jack Nowell (Exeter Chiefs, 33 caps)