Steve Borthwick meets with referee amid fears of player welfare in Argentina

England go after a series win in the shadow of the Andes with Steve Borthwick urging rugby officials to do a better job of looking out for players after two incidents concerned him in the first Test against Argentina.

Henry Slade’s tour was ended by a fractured hand in La Plata yet England claim the referee, Angus Gardner, was trying to tell him to get up and not wanting to stop the game. When Charlie Ewels later sustained a finger dislocation “that went through the skin” they similarly felt rushed to treat him.

Borthwick met Luc Ramos, the Frenchman in charge of the second Test, on Friday to flag his concerns. World Rugby is on a mission to speed up the game, but England’s head coach says that must not be at the expense of player welfare. “What was slightly concerning last week was that in both those incidents the referee was trying to play through, trying to carry on, trying to tell the player to get up, we’re carrying on,” he said.

“Player welfare is our priority: our number-one priority, our number-two priority, our number-three priority. We’ve got to be conscious of that. These men work exceptionally hard, they’re full of courage. We need to make sure their welfare is looked after. I hope that’s the case on Saturday.”

Gardner came in for criticism when officiating the pivotal Six Nations match between Ireland and France. Antoine Dupont suffered a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament but the referee chose not to review the incident, which the French rugby federation president, Florian Grill, said he found “disturbing”.

The Australian will run the line on Saturday at the Estadio San Juan del Bicentenario, where England put their faith in the greenest midfield they have fielded for a decade. Luke Northmore makes his debut, a week after Seb Atkinson made his. Not since the centres Slade and Sam Burgess won their first caps together, against France in 2015, have England put such faith in youth.

“We know what a dangerous side Argentina are and how we are going to counter them defensively,” Borthwick said. “What you’ve also seen with this England team is that it is one which runs hard and is conditioned to run hard. Luke does exactly that. His post-contact metres are very good. He gives us an opportunity with his power.”

The Australian referee, Angus Gardner, was criticised after injuries to England players in the first Test. Photograph: Alejandro Pagni/AFP/Getty Images

As for Atkinson being the senior man in the middle at the age of 23, Kevin Sinfield said he has no worries. “From the moment he came into camp we were all taken aback at how talented he was,” said England’s skills coach. “He can run like not many others can. He knows the game, so tactically he’s where he should be, and technically he’s very good too. He has such maturity for a young guy.

“He was outstanding last week and, without looking too far ahead, you think of the autumn series and the players that then become available [post Lions]. These guys at the minute hold the shirts. If Seb goes well again it will be pretty tough to take that 12 shirt from him.”

That is some carrot, though Sinfield is wary of the challenge heading England’s way on the basis that, in his estimation, it is easier to react to a disappointment than to build on a real positive. “But great players and great teams do that. We’ve got a young, inexperienced group and that is the message we are trying to get across.”

Argentina have changed seven of the side beaten 35-12 and are intent on marking the game in which Pablo Matera will become a record-breaking Puma, with his 111th cap, by turning in a far improved performance. It may not be an occasion for the fainthearted.