"I feel brilliant" - Elliot Daly makes England return after injury setback

Steve Borthwick has made six changes to the team that beat New Zealand 33-19 last weekend, and Daly’s name stands out — not just because he returns, but because of everything he has come back from.

This will be his first England appearance since fracturing his forearm on British and Irish Lions duty in July, an injury that required a plate held in place by 16 screws and cut short a tour in which he had been pushing hard for a Test place.

Now he starts on the wing, a role he has played many times but one that still asks for subtle adjustments. Daly explained the shift in simple terms: “I'd say it's a little bit different.

"You're probably a little bit further away from the ball, so you've probably got to make good decisions on it… if they come down the short side, you need to be there as well.”

That constant balancing act is made easier, he says, by England’s freedom in attack. “The way that we play is very fluid… there's a licence to do what you want to add to the team and help them out.”

His presence is part necessity as well as opportunity. Tom Roebuck and Ollie Lawrence suffered autumn-ending injuries in that bruising win over the All Blacks and Tommy Freeman remains out, forcing Borthwick to reshuffle his backline.

Few players offer Daly’s blend of experience, versatility and calm decision-making, which explains why Borthwick has already spoken of him as a figure he sees carrying through to the next World Cup, despite the fact that the Saracens star is now 33 years old.

Daly doesn’t shy away from that conversation. “I feel brilliant at the moment,” he said. “There's a lot spoken about age, but… if you're still performing… you know when you're behind. I would love to be here come the next World Cup, help as much as possible, and beyond that, to be totally honest.”

Getting back to this point has been a slow, sometimes frustrating process. “It feels quick now, but it was probably quite slow,” he reflected.

After surgery he was forced into six weeks of little activity, followed by a long stretch of training without being cleared to play. “So it's been a bit frustrating, but you've got to look at the positives and get yourself in good enough nick when you are called upon.”

Argentina arrive with momentum of their own after fighting back from 21-0 down to beat Scotland 33-24 at Murrayfield. They will test England physically and emotionally, and Daly knows discipline cannot waver.

With several high-profile cards overturned in recent weeks, he insists players are clear on their responsibilities: “You know where the line is… it's about being as squeaky clean as possible.”