Loosehead Prop – Ellis Genge
This one for me is a no-brainer. The Aviva Premiership’s Discovery of the Season, outstanding for Leicester in 2017 and made a good impression against the Barbarians, Ellis Genge has to start for England. He is an aggressive ball carrier and under the eye of Tigers legends Marcos Ayerza and Boris Stankovich, he has become an exceptional scrummager as well. His effectiveness in the loose will put him just in front of Matt Mullen for the starting spot.

Hooker – Dylan Hartley (c)
A good end to the season, I think Dylan Hartley still should be captain and hooker in Argentina. Whether he will remain to be captain after 2017, that will be open to debate. Also his vast experience is vital in a relatively inexperienced front-row, and his battle against Argentina’s Agustin Creevy will certainly be interesting.

Tighthead – Will Collier
With Paul Hill injured and both Dan Cole and Kyle Sinckler away with Lions, Will Collier is really England’s only starting option. He played well against the Barbarians in the scrum and that will certainly be a focus going into Argentina as the Pumas outmatched the English when they last met in the autumn. Jones will hope that Collier plays well as he wants to increase England’s strength in depth in what is their most weakest position.

Lock – Nick Isiekwe
I think Nick Isiekwe deserves to play lock after a stellar performance against the Barbarians capped off with a good team try. He has been billed as the next Maro Itoje and will want to make the decision of lock from a headache to a migraine if he plays well in Argentina. He has great potential and I’m sure he will want to show that on the international senior stage.

Lock – Joe Launchbury
Even though I hate Wasps as a club I must admit that I was shocked to not see Joe Launchbury be selected for Lions. The “Human Ice Pack” as he was described by Eddie Jones after an outstanding performance against Wales will be influential in guiding Isiekwe against the Pumas with his experience. His work-rate is exceptional and his skill in the lineout is great as well.

Blindside Flanker – Chris Robshaw
You have got to feel for Chris Robshaw, this the second time he has undeservedly been not selected for the Lions Tour. However he picked himself up and managed to co-captain England at Twickenham and did really well in guiding England’s inexperienced debutants in the Barbarians game. Good over the ball and with the ball in hand, he also has a good defensive record and has bounced back from injury impeccably.

Openside Flanker – Tom Curry
With Sam Underhill recovering from an injury picked up in the match against the Barbarians, I don’t think he will play the first test – he will probably be on the bench. Tom Curry undoubtedly deserves to be the starting Number 7. Against the Barbarians the uncapped 18 year old managed to outdo legend Thierry Dusautoir (the greatest open side of all time?) and Steffon Armitage (the greatest player not to play for England?). He has certainly got potential and when you look at his twin Ben and Leicester’s Will Evans, England have got bright futures at 7.

Number 8 – Nathan Hughes
Nathan Hughes was outstanding for Wasps in the Aviva Premiership Final and will want to run riot for England in the first test and certainly give Nicholás Sánchez a few smashes to the turf. His ball-carrying can be very good and often will put teams on the back-foot and create space out wide. However I am slightly worried that he is carrying a niggling injury from the semifinal vs Leicester.

Scrumhalf – Danny Care
With Ben Youngs unavailable for family reasons, Danny Care will more than perfectly fit the bill in his absence. He has a good eye for sniping and cheeky typical scrumhalf play. He had a good game against the Barbarians and will want to carry on that form into Buenos Aires. Hopefully he would have recovered from embarrassingly trying to dye his hair and put on a good performance to link the forwards with the backs.

Flyhalf – George Ford
George Ford has dumped the woes of the Welsh game 12 months ago at Twickenham and threw it in the dustbin as he had a immaculate game against the Barbarians from his game management to his kicking from the tee. His game management and attack is world class and only his goal kicking let’s him down. But I think he can use the Lions disappointment to his advantage and put a solid performance up against the Puma’s Nicholas Sanchez.

Left Winger – Nathan Earle
Nathan Earle was outstanding against the Barbarians and I think he deserves to start against Argentina, moan all you want about Christian Wade, Chris Ashton and Semesa Rokoduguni being ignored by the England hierarchy but Earle deserves a chance and give Daly, Nowell and Watson a run for their money.

Inside Centre – Henry Slade
Henry Slade will finally get the chance he deserves with England in Argentina I hope and produced a monster penalty kick to touch to set up Exeter’s titanic win over Saracens a couple of weeks ago. He’s got good attacking skills whether running or chipping over the top and his boot is sublime as well. I think Jones will still run the 10/12 axis whether with Slade or Mallinder at 12 and Ford or Lozowski at 10.

Outside Centre – Ollie Devoto
I felt so sorry for Joe Marchant when I heard that he was ruled out of the tour with a toe injury, I was really looking forward to seeing what this guy could produce on the international stage a year after lighting up the U20s Tournament, but I think the starting centre should go to Ollie Devoto despite Sam James starting against the Baa-Baas. For me Devoto has had a more consistent season, he is a good try scorer and is a strong runner too, which is good considering Jones wants to increase his backline’ weight.

Right Winger – Denny Solomona
If he is fit, he has to start against Argentina, this guy was born to finish and has seamlessly transferred from league to union and has been a revelation to the English game and lit up the Premiership. Whether his transition was legal or not, nonetheless he is the biggest convert since Jason Robinson although no one could be as good as Robinson was Solomona will be a star for England for years to come.

Fullback – Mike Brown
Though Eddie Jones continuously ignores Alex Goode (probably only because he doesn’t want to get accused of favouritism at Saracens), Brown for me is the starting full back though I don’t see him playing for England consistently after 2017. Full of aggression and passion, this man can be a strong runner and has got good pace and footwork. Has been in good form lately for Harlequins and will want to transfer that to the Argentinian tour.

By Jacob Bassford

Photo by: Patrick Khachfe / Onside Images

Thanks to Jacob for this article. You can submit your own community articles here if you’d like to start a discussion.