Argentina vs England Prediction: Pumas to draw first blood in La Plata

Missing a host of established names due to Lions commitments and injuries, England face a battle-hardened Argentina in the first match of a two-Test series in La Plata on Saturday night (20:40, live on Sky Sports Action).

Read on for my Argentina vs England predictions, complete with the latest odds and team news for the clash.

Argentina vs England Odds

England are outsiders at 19/10, even though they have won 12 of their last 13 matches against the Pumas. Argentina, priced at 4/9, have won their last two matches on home soil. The draw is priced at 25/1.

The three-way handicap is set at five points, with England (+5) 1/1 and Argentina (-5) available at 10/11, while the handicap tie is 28/1.

Team News

Argentina make six changes to the side that stunned the British & Irish Lions last month, as Felipe Contepomi has reshuffled both backs and forwards for the first Test.

Santiago Carreras moves from fullback to fly-half, partnering the returning Gonzalo Bertranou at scrum-half. Debutant Benjamin Elizalde starts at fullback, joining Santiago Cordero and Rodrigo Isgro in a dynamic back three.

In the pack, Facundo Isa returns at number eight after an 18-month absence, joining Pablo Matera and Juan Martin Gonzalez in a powerful back row. Lucas Paulos is a new face in the second row, while Pedro Delgado comes in at prop alongside captain Julian Montoya and Mayco Vivas.

England are without 13 regulars on Lions duty and hand debuts to centre Seb Atkinson and wing Will Muir, with flanker Guy Pepper set for his first cap off the bench.

Fly-half George Ford will co-captain the side alongside Jamie George and is set to win his 100th England cap.

Argentina -5 @ 10/11

The Pumas are deserved favourites at home given their recent record on Argentinean soil in the Rugby Championship.

They beat world champions South Africa 29-28 in Santiago del Estero and thrashed Australia by a margin of 40 points a week after being edged out 20-19 by the Wallabies in La Plata.

Contepomi’s Pumas will be buoyed by their recent win over the Lions and a settled, hard-tackling side should have too much for England.

With so many of England’s top-tier players absent, the visitors are light on international caps in key areas.

Borthwick is using the Tests to identify those capable of handling the pressure and England will be expecting a severe examination from the Pumas’ hulking pack and talented backs.

Ford’s experience and strategic nous will be crucial in keeping the visitors in the game, but ultimately it may not be enough to resist the team currently ranked one place higher than them for the full 80 minutes.

Double Result - Argentina-Argentina @ 1/1

The Pumas are expected to play with their trademark flair and tempo, especially in front of their home fans and against a team that have been their nemesis in the last two World Cups.

Argentina’s backline is loaded with pace and creativity, while the pack boasts experience and power.

England, meanwhile, will look to their set-piece and Ford’s tactical kicking to keep the contest close, but the lack of international experience in key positions could be telling.

Argentina led 21-10 at half-time against the Lions before surviving a second-half fightback in Dublin.

They are known for making fast starts in front of their fans too, having led South Africa 26-22 at the break in their last match on home soil.

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