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Debutant duo start for England

Christian Wade and Matt Kvesic will win their first caps for England against Argentina this weekend.

London Wasps wing Wade, 21, and Worcester Warriors flank Kvesic, 22, make their Test debuts against the Pumas at the Estadio Padre Ernesto Martearena in Salta on Saturday.

Three more players – Bath centre Kyle Eastmond, Sale Sharks prop Henry Thomas and London Wasps back row forward Billy Vunipola – will also win their first caps if they come off the replacements bench.

Elsewhere flyhalf Freddie Burns (Gloucester), hooker Rob Webber (Bath) and lock Dave Attwood (Bath) all start a full international for the first time.

Head coach Stuart Lancaster said: “It is great to have so many young players pushing through and to be able to give them their opportunities on this tour.

“It is a young England side but one with a great deal of ability and self-belief and it will be great to see how they perform in the intensity of Test match rugby.

“Facing Argentina in front of their home crowd in Salta will be a tough challenge but we are looking forward to it and I am sure the players will give their all for the shirt.”

England: 15 Mike Brown, 14 Christian Wade, 13 Jonathan Joseph , 12 Billy Twelvetrees, 11 David Strettle, 10 Freddie Burns, 9 Lee Dickson, 8 Ben Morgan, 7 Matt Kvesic, 6 Tom Wood (captain), 5 Dave Attwood , 4 Joe Launchbury, 3 David Wilson, 2 Rob Webber, 1 Joe Marler.

Replacements: 16 David Paice, 17 Paul Jones, 18 Henry Thomas, 19 Courtney Lawes, 20 Billy Vunipola, 21 Richard Wigglesworth, 22 Kyle Eastmond, 23 Ben Foden.

Date: Saturday, June 8

Venue: El Estadio Padre Ernesto Martearena, Salta

Kick-off: 16.10 (19.10 GMT)

Referee: Chris Pollock (New Zealand)

Assistant referees: Nigel Owens (Wales), Christie du Preez (South Africa)

TMO: Shaun Veldsman (South Africa)

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