England take on Argentina in the first Test in La Plata on Saturday evening. Steve Borthwick is without his British and Irish Lions contingent for a three-match summer tour that includes two games against the Pumas before a one-off clash with the USA in Washington, D.C. Opportunity knocks for so many players in this weakened and experimental young England squad, with several hopefuls getting their initial chances in an eventful 26-24 loss to a France XV in a non-cap international held at Allianz Stadium Twickenham last month. Borthwick’s side will face a stiff challenge against Argentina, who upset the mighty Lions 28-24 in their historic 1888 Cup fixture in Dublin in June. Felipe Contepomi’s team are currently ranked one place above England at No5 in the world and beat all of South Africa, New Zealand, France and Australia in 2024 as they continue to go from strength to strength. The first of two summer Tests between Argentina and England takes place on Saturday July 5, 2025 at the Estadio Jorge Luis Hirschi in La Plata, Buenos Aires Province. The game kicks off at 8:40pm BST, which is 3:40pm local time. TV channel: In the UK, the game is available to watch live on Sky Sports Action, with coverage beginning at 7:40pm BST. Live stream: Those with a Sky Sports subscription can also view the match live online via the Sky Go app. It can also be streamed with NOW. Live blog: Follow the full fixture live with Standard Sport’s blog. As he did against the France XV, George Ford co-captains the visitors alongside hooker Jamie George this weekend, becoming only the eighth men’s player ever to reach a century of caps for England in the process. There are senior international debuts for Gloucester centre Seb Atkinson and wing Will Muir, whose Bath team-mate Guy Pepper will also earn his first cap off the bench. England’s inexperienced side are without 12 players currently on Lions duty including regular skipper Maro Itoje, plus Ellis Genge, Luke Cowan-Dickie, Will Stuart, Ollie Chessum, Ben Earl, Henry Pollock, Tom Curry, Fin Smith, Marcus Smith, Alex Mitchell and Tommy Freeman. Elliot Daly was also in Australia, but suffered a tour-ending fractured forearm against the Queensland Reds, leading to a call-up for Owen Farrell, who has not played for England since the 2023 World Cup after stepping back from international rugby in order to prioritise his and his family’s mental wellbeing and spending a year in France. Immanuel Feyi-Waboso is with the England squad this summer but won’t be available until the USA Test after being handed a two-game ban following his sending off for a dangerous high tackle on French fly-half Antoine Hastoy on his first appearance since December after a shoulder injury. Fraser Dingwall, George Furbank, Ollie Lawrence, Alex Lozowski, George Martin, Joe Batley and Ollie Sleightholme are all absent from the tour due to injury, though Ben Curry is fit again and Sam Underhill back from suspension. Argentina, captained by departing Leicester captain Julian Montoya, are due to name their team later on Thursday and should be boosted by the return of several France-based players that were missing in Dublin, making their win over the Lions all the more impressive. Argentina XV: TBC Replacements: TBC England XV: Steward; Roebuck, Slade, S Atkinson, Muir; Ford (co-c), Spencer; Baxter, George (co-c), Heyes; Ewels, Coles; B Curry, Underhill, Willis Replacements: Dan, Rodd, Opoku-Fordjour, Cunningham-South, Pepper, Dombrandt, Van Poortvliet, Murley England have dominated this fixture historically, losing just five of 27 total contests against the Pumas dating back to 1981 - and only one since 2009. Argentina’s 30-29 triumph in the autumn of 2022 was their first at Twickenham for some 16 years, thanks to superb performances from Emiliano Boffelli and Santiago Carreras. England won both subsequent matches at the World Cup in 2023 and last toured Argentina in 2017, winning two Tests in San Juan and Santa Fe. The two sides are scheduled to meet again in the autumn. Argentina wins: 5 England wins: 21 Even at full-strength you would consider this two-Test summer tour a tough assignment for England, let alone missing their large Lions contingent and a number of other players through injury. Argentina are a disciplined and physical outfit packed full of nous, guile and attacking flair, as the Lions found out to their cost in Dublin. Bolstered by some returning stars and itching to take advantage of a much-weakened rival on home soil, you have to agree with Borthwick that the Pumas begin the series as the favourites. The onus will be on England’s young hopefuls to grasp the significant opportunity that lies in front of them with both hands, and on more experienced heads like George and Ford to guide them through a hugely difficult challenge. Argentina to win, by seven points. Argentina to win: 1/3 England to win: 13/5 Odds via Betfair (subject to change).