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England vs Argentina – Rugby World Cup bronze final LIVE: Tom Curry starts for England amid racism row, as Marcus Smith returns to starting line-up

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Follow Mail Sport’s live blog for the latest scores and updates as England take on Argentina in the bronze medal match at the Rugby World Cup

Steve Borthwick: ‘Tom Curry has done nothing wrong’

Speaking ahead of tonight’s match Steve Borthwick has claimed that his side are focused and ready for the Bronze final.

The England coach said: ‘In terms of the focus the bronze final against a quality Argentina side really does focus the mind. We’re excited about this game tonight. It’s our second six-day turn around. So we need to focus on recovery and make sure that the training is exactly what we need to do to get the performance tonight.

‘We’re a group of players who are hungry that want to build on what we’ve been doing.’

Speaking on retiring players Ben Youngs and Courtney Lawes, he said: ‘They’ve both been incredible servants to English rugby. They’ve both played a huge number of tests. Both centurions who have given everything to English rugby and will continue to be great supporters, they spoke to the team last night, of the team.

‘I know Ben’s going to go out and put in a top-quality performance which has been what’s synonymous of him and that No 9 shirt for so many years.’

And when questionned whether Tom Curry was okay after having received abuse this week, Borthwick said: ‘Let’s just be clear here that Tom has done nothing wrong. And when people talk about the situation, Tom reported it to the referee.

‘As you’d expect a player to in a situation like that now Tom has been terrific all week with all kinds of other things that have been going on. But World Rugby made a decision that we’re very disappointed in. But the focus for us and from Tom is on the performance tonight.’

What does it mean to win the bronze medal?

It’s been a difficult few months for England who despite having reached the semi-finals, and played gallantly against South Africa, attack coach Richard Wigglesworth stated that his side have learned a lot during the tournament.

Ahead of tonight’s clash, he said: ‘We’ve seen progress and are pleased and proud of the players.

‘If we get Friday night right and do our job to the best of our ability then we have a good chance of leaving the tournament with some tangible reward and some satisfaction to go along with all the hard work.’

Despite that, the former Leicester Tigers scrum-half added that his side were disappointed to be playing tonight instead of in Saturday night’s final.

‘This is not the week you want to be playing in. You can be honest and say this isn’t the game that these two teams aimed to play in.

‘But we could have already been at home and we’re not.

‘If you’re asking where you’d rather be, you’d rather be here participating in a World Cup.’

PARIS, FRANCE - OCTOBER 27: Ben Youngs of England warms up prior to the Rugby World Cup France 2023 Bronze Final match between Argentina and England at Stade de France on October 27, 2023 in Paris, France. (Photo by David Rogers/Getty Images)
PARIS, FRANCE - OCTOBER 27: Captains Owen Farrell of England and Julian Montoya of Argentina join Referee Nic Berry at The Asahi Coin Toss prior to the Rugby World Cup France 2023 Bronze Final match between Argentina and England at Stade de France on October 27, 2023 in Paris, France. (Photo by David Ramos - World Rugby/World Rugby via Getty Images)
PARIS, FRANCE - OCTOBER 27: Tom Curry of England warms up prior to the Rugby World Cup France 2023 Bronze Final match between Argentina and England at Stade de France on October 27, 2023 in Paris, France. (Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)
PARIS, FRANCE - OCTOBER 27: Ben Youngs, Joe Marler and Courtney Lawes inspect the pitch prior to the Rugby World Cup France 2023 Bronze Final match between Argentina and England at Stade de France on October 27, 2023 in Paris, France. (Photo by Dan Mullan/Getty Images)

The final dance

Ben Youngs will tonight call time on a sensational international career.

The Leicester Tigers scrum half has amassed a whopping 127 international caps, making him England’s most capped player of all-time.

The 34-year-old is one of five English players to have been capped 100 times.

During his international career, Youngs has won four six nations titles, a Grand Slam and also represented the British and Irish Lions in 2013.

He confirmed the news on BBC Radio 5Live on Wednesday after being named in Steve Borthwick’s starting line-up for tonight’s match.

He made his debut in 2010 against Scotland in the Six Nations and scored on his first start for England later that year during a 21-20 victory against Australia.

Borthwick said on Youngs’ decision to retire: Ben has been a tremendous player for English rugby for such a long time.’

’Our record cap holder. A player who has seen a lot in four World Cups and who has played an important role within this squad helping the team, particularly Alex Mitchell, progress. He’s a brilliant player and a fantastic team man.’

Both teams are in the house!

Tom Curry starts amid racism row

Tom Curry will start tonight at blindside flanker for England, amid an ongoing racism row.

During England’s semi-final defeat by South Africa, Curry claimed he had been the victim of racial abuse during England’s semi-final defeat to South Africa last Saturday.

And England head coach Steve Borthwick spoke on the matter during his pre-match press conference on Thursday.

READ MORE BELOW…

Argentina starting XV

Argentina meanwhile have made four changes since their 44-6 semi-final defeat by New Zealand.

Santiago Chocobares has dropped out of the team with Jeronimo De La Fuente replacing him at 12. Tomas Cubelli returns to the side to replace Gonzalo Bertranou at scrum half.

In the pack, Pedro Rubiolo and Guido Pagadizabal come in at second row to replace Guido Petti and Tomas Lavanini.

Argentina: 15 Mallia; 14 Boffelli, 13 Cinti, 12 De la Fuente, 11 M Carreras; 10 S Carreras, 9 Cubelli; 1 Gallo, 2 Montoya (capt), 3 Kodela, 4 Pagadizabal, 5 Rubiolo, 6 Gonzalez, 7 Kremer, 8 Isa.

Replacements: Creevy, Sclavi, Bello, Alemanno, Bruni, Velez, Sanchez, Moroni.

England starting XV

Tom Curry is one of seven players to retain their place in the starting XV despite a week of controversy

Marcus Smith returns to full-back after missing out against South Africa, with Freddie Steward moving to the wing.

Henry Arundell returns to start for the first time after scoring five tries against Chile in the group stages.

Ben Youngs will come in at scrum-half with Alex Mitchell dropping out of the team, in what will be his 127th and final cap for England. Jason Leonard is second with 114 while Owen Farrell and Dan Cole both have 111 and 106 respectively.

Courtney Lawes who follows them, with 105 caps, is absent from the team tonight after he announced his retirement.

Tom Curry moves to blindside flanker, with Oli Chessum replacing George Martin at second-row.

Ben Earl will move to No 8, with Sam Underhill comes in at open side flanker.

Steve Borthwick has also swapped out his front row, with Ellis Genge, Theo Dan and Will Stuart replacing Joe Marler, Jamie George and Dan Cole.

England: 15 Smith; 14 Steward, 13 Marchant, 12 Tuilagi, 11 Arundell; 10 Farrell (capt), 9 Youngs; 1 Genge, 2 Dan, 3 Stuart, 4 Itoje, 5 Chessum, 6 Curry, 7 Underhill, 8 Earl.

Replacements: George, Rodd, Cole, Ribbans, Ludlam, Care, Ford, Lawrence.

Good evening!

Welcome to our live coverage of England’s Rugby World Cup bronze final clash against Argentina!

Steve Borthwick’s side will run out for the final time at the tournament after they were agonisingly beaten by South Africa in the semi-finals last week.

Tom Curry will start for England tonight at blindside flanker amid the ongoing racism row.

Meanwhile, veteran Ben Youngs will play his final game for the club after both he and Courtney Lawes announced that they would be retiring from international rugby after the world cup.

Stay with us here as we’ll be bringing you all the latest updates, news and commentary from tonights game.

But first, here’s the latest team news…

PARIS, FRANCE - OCTOBER 27: A general view inside the stadium prior to the Rugby World Cup France 2023 Bronze Final match between Argentina and England at Stade de France on October 27, 2023 in Paris, France. (Photo by Henry Browne - World Rugby/World Rugby via Getty Images)
PARIS, FRANCE - OCTOBER 27: A general view of the match shirts of England displayed inside the England dressing room prior to the Rugby World Cup France 2023 Bronze Final match between Argentina and England at Stade de France on October 27, 2023 in Paris, France. (Photo by Michael Steele - World Rugby/World Rugby via Getty Images)
PARIS, FRANCE - OCTOBER 27: A general view inside the Argentina dressing room prior to the Rugby World Cup France 2023 Bronze Final match between Argentina and England at Stade de France on October 27, 2023 in Paris, France. (Photo by Michael Steele - World Rugby/World Rugby via Getty Images)
Key Updates

  • The final dance
  • Argentina starting XV
  • England starting XV

TOP STORIES

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