England’s squad trained on Thursday as Eddie Jones’ squad prepared for their Autumn series opener against Argentina.
Jones watched on as his team completed a series of fitness drills and ball work ahead of the match at Twickenham on Saturday afternoon.
The England coach said Argentina will return home to a hero’s reception of beer and steak if they beat England at Twickenham on Saturday.
Wasps’ wing Elliot Daly is tackled on the run during England’s training session on Thursday
Eddie Jones said Argentina would be given a hero’s reception back home if they beat England
The Pumas lost every Test in the recent Rugby Championship and have not won at Twickenham since 2006.
England head into the Test without flanker Tom Curry, who injured his wrist on Thursday morning and has been replaced on the bench by Sam Simmonds.
‘They’re coming off back of not a good season,’ said Jones. ‘Their coach is under pressure, their plyers are under pressure. They know if they beat England at Twickenham then their whole season turns around.
‘They can go back to Buenos Aires and sit on the beach as heroes. Everyone will want to buy them a beer. Everyone will want to buy them a steak.’
George Ford attempts to tackle Tom Curry as England were put through their paces by Jones
Dylan Hartley barks out orders as England geared up for Saturday’s Autumn International
Pressure is increasing on the South Americans after eight defeats. Jones claims he will field his ‘strongest team’ in the series opener – although Lions pair Maro Itoje and Owen Farrell have been rested.
Henry Slade will take over Farrell’s No 12 jersey to start his first Test at Twickenham since 2015 after he was selected ahead of Alex Lozowski.
‘Henry’s got a lot,’ said Jones. ‘He’s got nice feet, good balance a good head. He’s got some speed, courage; he’s got everything there is.
‘If you look at the team, there are six or seven who have come out of Argentina tour and he’s one of those guys. It just shows how beneficial that tour was.’
Harlequins fly-half Danny Care passes the ball during one training drill at Pennyhill Park
Care’s club team-mate Mike Brown was left out of the XV to face Argentina at Twickenham
Jones laid down a marker to Hartley (right) and his pack ahead of the Autumn Test opener
Argentina’s traditional strength is in the front five, prompting Jones to lay down a marker to skipper Dylan Hartley and his pack.
‘We’ve got to make sure that we set the standard and tone of the game,’ said Jones. ‘That starts up front. That starts with Dylan and the front-row and it goes back from there. The aim of the game is to put our stamp on up front.
‘You have a tactical and physical contest for the ball and that’s where the game is won or lost because if you get good quality ball that’s when he little guys run with it.
Chris Robshaw will start for England at blindside flanker despite featuring at No 8 in training
Care shows the strain as he undergoes a fitness drill alongside his international team-mates
‘And we’ve got guys who can run fast and who have good hands. We’re quite clear how we want to play rugby and develop.’
England had joined forces with Wales on Monday for an unprecedented joint training session at Clifton College in Bristol.
The collaboration was organised by England’s forwards coach Steve Borthwick with a focus on improving scrums and line-outs. The aim was to get each pack in a competitive frame of mind ahead of the weekend’s fixtures.