England vs Argentina – Rugby World Cup LIVE: Alex Mitchell handed a surprise start for Steve Borthwick’s side following difficult tournament preparations

Fans and journalists outside the ground send in their images and footage as they struggle to make progress.

Here’s a video from another Twitter user.

Chris Foy wrote: ‘I hope they clean up this mess soon. Hordes of fans try to enter the stadium and the crowds are getting worse. I just saw a man who had come through the gate punching the air in relief.’

‘There are serious problems here outside the stadium, with thousands of fans crowded together to get through security checks at the gates. Judging from the current chaotic scenes, not everyone will be in time for kick-off in 25 minutes. There is no word yet on the start of the game being postponed.”

Here’s another look at the chaos outside the stadium.

For more Rugby World Cup coverage, check out Nik Simon and Kevin Quigley’s ‘Croqued’ series, a fun and informative look at their travels covering this tournament in France, packed with rugby chats and insights.

As you can see, one of the entrances to the Stade Velodrome is full, with only half an hour to go until kick-off.

Courtney Lawes has spoken about the honor of captaining England as he leads them in what is his fourth World Cup campaign.

‘It’s huge for me, a great honour. I just want to do my best for the boys and the people at home who support us. It’s a very exciting weekend. We have had a very good week of training and are looking forward to getting started.

We have to be defensive and physically healthy. We have to match (Argentina) up front first and foremost. And we’ve created a game plan that fits our strengths and gives us plenty of options.

There is certainly frustration. We feel it as much as anyone. We’re in the middle of it. We are doing everything we can to ensure we can fire on all cylinders this weekend.”

Mail Sport columnist and former World Cup winner Sir Clive Woodward has just told ITV Sport: ‘I think it would be annoying if we win tonight.’

Argentina posed a unique challenge as one of the most fiery teams in rugby, winning 30-29 at Twickenham last year. don’t take them lightly.

Maro Itoje has uttered some defiant words ahead of tonight’s match.

Steve Borthwick has lost six of his first nine games in charge of England but Itoje, who starts in the second row tonight, insists England know their quality.

“We know who we are, we know what kind of players we have, we know the quality of coaches we have,” he said.

‘We haven’t played as well as we could, but we know the potential of this group, you know the attitude of the players and the coaches and you can only fill that with confidence.

‘We want to be part of something special and that starts this weekend.

“We have seen how England get behind their national teams and we want to produce rugby that gets the country behind us.”

Finally they are on the grass. England’s World Cup opener is less than an hour away! We waited four years, and now you can almost taste it.

Now take a look at Argentina’s starting XV for this match.

Julian Montoya is the leader and captain in the front row, also captain of Leicester Tigers. He is powerful and has been named in the Gallagher Premiership team of the season twice in a row.

Marcos Kremer is back after a suspension. He plays for Clermont in the club season and has 57 Argentine caps to his name.

It is no secret that the build-up to the World Cup in England has been marred by an accumulation of problems. Once a slick operation, England go into this World Cup with pessimistic talk.

There are bans, injuries, a first-ever defeat to Fiji and much more. For a team that reached the final under Eddie Jones in 2019, everything that could have gone wrong has gone wrong, writes Kieran Lynch.

Check out Mail Sport’s rugby page elsewhere on our website to read his report.

This is what will be the center of operations ahead of kickoff for each team tonight.

In the middle image you see Manu Tuilagi’s sweaters, which starts in the middle; George Ford, who sits at fly-half; and Alex Mitchell at number 6.

England have a good record against Argentina, having won 19 of their 25 meetings, but try telling these South American fans that the history books matter.

They showed up here in full strength and Argentinian regalia. One thing is certain: whatever happens on the pitch, there will be a blast of atmosphere at the Stade Velodrome tonight.

Steve Borthwick has a nation’s hopes on his shoulders and will know his team selection will set the tone for the rest of the tournament.

Alex Mitchell gets a surprise start at number 9 after a whirlwind few weeks. The Northampton Saints man wasn’t even included in Borthwick’s original squad for the tournament, but Jack Van Poortvliet’s withdrawal led to his inclusion and now he starts for Danny Care and Ben Youngs for his seventh cap.

Courtney Lawes will captain the team from number 6 in the absence of Owen Farrell after picking up his 100th cap against Fiji.

Jonny May is also on the wing, he was also not part of the original 33-man squad.

Here is England’s line-up for their World Cup opener.

Good evening and welcome to Mail Sport’s live blog as England begin their Rugby World Cup campaign against Argentina.

The Stade Velodrome in Marseille, an absolute cauldron of a venue, will play host to the occasion tonight as Steve Borthwick’s men look to put their recent woes behind them.

Kick-off is at 8pm and here at Mail Sport we’ll be bringing you all the build-up, live action and reaction.