Riding high on momentum, the England rugby team is buoyed by George Ford’s exceptional drop-goal performance that clinched a memorable victory over the All Blacks last weekend, marking their 10th consecutive Test win.

With their sights set on wrapping up the autumn series with an unblemished record, Steve Borthwick’s squad enters Sunday’s final Test against Argentina as the favorites. This confidence is further bolstered by their successful tour of the Americas in July, where they triumphed over Argentina twice, even in the absence of their Lions players.

However, caution is warranted. Sunday’s showdown at Twickenham will feature revamped lineups, as Argentina’s head coach, Felipe Contepomi, reintegrates several key players from the Top 14 league, who were not present during the summer losses.

Adding to the intrigue, Argentina has been on a strong run since July, having defeated the All Blacks and recently staging an impressive comeback from a 21-point deficit to overcome Scotland at Murrayfield last week.

Could Argentina be poised for a measure of revenge?

England swept Argentina aside in their two-Test series in July but both teams were missing key players and this Sunday’s clash will look very different

Los Pumas come into the game on the back of a heroic comeback at Murrayfield, turning a 21-0 deficit into a 33-24 victory

‘It will be a special game,’ 65-cap Pumas legend Ignacio Fernandez Lobbe, part of the first Argentina team ever to win at Twickenham back in 2006, tells Daily Mail Sport.

‘A lot of Argentina’s players were rested during the summer because they were coming off a big season in France.

‘It’s always a difficult match playing against George Ford. He’s a guy who can manage a game in every way. We remember his drop-goals at the World Cup (in 2023, when Ford nailed three) when England had a red card (but won 27-10).

‘England will have a good defence, a good maul and a good kick-chase. Argentina will try to make a really quick game because that is where we have confidence.

‘Argentina have won the first two matches in November (52-28 over Wales and 33-24 over Scotland) for the first time so they come with a lot of energy. To come back from 21-0 down in style against Scotland was incredible.

‘There are a lot of young talents coming through. If we can have a good scrum and don’t get penalised there, then I think Argentina will win by five points.’

Here, guided by former Sale, Northampton and Bath lock Lobbe, we take a look at the six Pumas to watch…

Ignacio Fernandez Lobbe was a mainstay of the Argentina side of the 2000s, winning 65 caps and finishing in third place at the 2007 World Cup

Argentina celebrate their first ever win at Twickenham, back in 2006

Mateo Carreras – winger

Built like Welsh legend Shane Williams, the 5ft 8in hot-stepper beat six defenders off 18 carries against Scotland, making 116 metres.

He uses his speed and footwork to get on the end of offloads from full-back Juan Cruz Mallia as the Argentinians look to splinter the defence, and missed the summer series due to his extended club season with Bayonne in France.

The All Blacks scored both their tries against England last week in the wide channels and Carreras, who spent three-and-a-half years with Newcastle before joining Bayonne last year, will be on the red alert to holes in their edge defence.

‘He’s in great form,’ says Lobbe. ‘Really explosive, appears on the left and then the right. He chases kicks. He’s on fire.’

Built like Welsh legend Shane Williams, the 5ft 8in hot-stepper beat six defenders off 18 carries against Scotland, making 116 metres

He uses his speed and footwork to get on the end of offloads from full-back Juan Cruz Mallia as the Argentinians look to splinter the defence

Marcos Kremer – flanker

The 6ft 6in, 19st bearded Clermont flanker is one of the most imposing men in international rugby, forming Argentina’s very own bruise brothers in the back row alongside Pablo Matera.

Kremer missed the summer Tests but returned to make 97 tackles during the Rugby Championship – 11 more than second-place Fraser McReight of Australia and 21 more than third-placed Kiwi Ardie Savea.

If he is cleared fit to play then he will be at the heart of the plan to unsettle England’s half-backs and disrupt their kicking game.

‘It would be good to have Kremer back to be another pain in the a**e,’ says Lobbe. ‘He can give England some good hits. I will call Felipe and tell them to send the first carry into Ford and give him a tough afternoon!’

Marcos Kremer, the 6ft 6in, 19st bearded Clermont flanker, is one of the most imposing men in international rugby

If he is cleared fit to play then he will be at the heart of the plan to unsettle England’s half-backs and disrupt their kicking game

Santiago Chocobares – centre

Harlequins made a big play to sign the centre as a long-term replacement for powerful South African Andre Esterhuizen, but he remained loyal to Toulouse, where he has won the Top 14 four times in the last five years and a European Cup in 2024.

He brings power in attack and defence, making dominant shots and being used as a gain-line breaker to get in behind the defensive line.

Five years ago he began his international career with a bang, part of the first Argentina team to beat the All Blacks, on his debut in Sydney in 2020.

‘He carries well to start the attack,’ said Lobbe. ‘He runs really good lines, straight and hard.’

Santiago Chocobares brings power in attack and defence, making dominant shots and being used as a gain-line breaker to get in behind the defensive line

Santi Carreras – No10

He delivered Argentina’s very own answer to the Bomb Squad in Edinburgh, coming off the bench to help reverse a 21-0 deficit.

In just 34 minutes he got his hands on the ball 22 times and set up three line breaks, as well as kicking four conversions.

Carreras (no relation to Mateo) is one of few players in world rugby who looks just as comfortable marshalling his backline at fly-half as he does running down the wing. Having showcased his skills at Gloucester, the playmaker was recruited by Bath this season and is one of Test rugby’s in-form players.

‘He turned the game around in Scotland,’ said Lobbe. ‘Two years ago people were saying Argentina don’t have a fly-half but now we have three.

‘Geronimo Prisciantelli started at 10 the games against Wales and Scotland but England is a different challenge.’

Santi Carreras delivered Argentina’s very own answer to the Bomb Squad in Edinburgh, coming off the bench to help reverse a 21-0 deficit

He is one of few players in world rugby who looks just as comfortable marshalling his backline at fly-half as he does running down the wing, and kicked four conversions against Scotland

Julian Montoya – hooker

The hooker is one of the game’s most abrasive carriers around the base of the ruck. 

He was one of Steve Borthwick’s most trusted lieutenants during his time at Leicester Tigers, leaving the club over the summer for a Pau payday in France.

Argentina’s front row were penalised eight times against South Africa last month and Montoya will be focusing on tightening-up that unit to improve discipline.

‘He’s spent six or seven years playing in England,’ said Lobbe. ‘He knows a lot of the English players. Playing against England is a really special game for him.’

Julian Montoya is one of the game’s most abrasive carriers around the base of the ruck 

He was one of Steve Borthwick’s most trusted lieutenants during his time at Leicester Tigers, winning the Premiership title at Twickenham in 2022

Harlequins lock Guido Petti will look to exploit England’s weakness at the lineout

Guido Petti – lock

Lineout has been an area of weakness for England in recent weeks and Argentina’s second row is one of the most proficient set-piece operators, both coming to Twickenham with Premiership experience.

With Saracens flanker Juan Martin Gonzalez also in their ranks, the Pumas will be clued into Maro Itoje and Jamie George’s throw-in triggers and could use it as one of their biggest weapons.

Gonzalez was the top lineout winner during Rugby Championship – and also during recent wins over Wales and Scotland. With Quins man Petti alongside him, the Pumas are agile in the air with the ability to get up quickly and disrupt.