INTERNATIONALS:DYLAN HARTLEY will start at hooker for England against Australia. The inclusion of the Northampton captain is the only change England have made to the team that started last weekend's 26-16 defeat to New Zealand.
Steve Thompson drops to the bench, where he is joined by veteran Wasps lock Simon Shaw, who has replaced Dave Attwood after recovering from a calf injury.
Hartley made a dynamic impact off the bench against the All Blacks last weekend, scoring his first Test try to spark England’s second-half comeback. The fiery 24-year-old was arguably fortunate not to have been cited for a challenge on Richie McCaw.
But Hartley also added to an impressive scrummaging performance and England will again be targeting the Wallabies’ fragile set-piece. England dominated Australia’s scrum during the drawn summer Test series and they look a more formidable unit now with Andrew Sheridan back in the side at loosehead prop.
Attwood can consider himself unfortunate to miss out on selection after making a confident international debut against the All Blacks. England manager Martin Johnson has decided against making any changes to his centre combination, with Mike Tindall and Shontayne Hape to continue their partnership.
Meanwhile, Felipe Contepomi will captain Argentina at outhalf in the absence of the injured Juan Hernandez in Saturday’s Test against Italy in Verona.
Contepomi and outside centre Gonzalo Tiesi are the only regular 2007 World Cup backs in the Pumas side named by coach Santiago Phelan yesterday.
Hernandez injured a hamstring playing for Racing Metro. Lock Patricio Albacete also misses the tour through injury with relative newcomer Mariano Galarza lining up alongside Biarritz’s Manuel Carizza in the secondrow.
Miguel De Achaval and Genaro Fessia have been picked as flankers and the frontrow consists of Martin Scelzo, Rodrigo Roncero and hooker Mario Ledesma.
ENGLAND: B Foden (Northampton); C Ashton (Northampton), M Tindall (Gloucester), S Hape (Bath), M Cueto (Sale); T Flood (Leicester), B Youngs (Leicester); A Sheridan (Sale), D Hartley (Northampton), D Cole (Leicester), C Lawes (Northampton), T Palmer (Stade Francais), T Croft (Leicester), L Moody (Bath, capt), N Easter (Harlequins).
ARGENTINA: M Rodriguez (Stade Français); G Camacho (Harlequins), G Tiesi (Stade Français), S Fernandez (Montpellier), LG Amorosino (Leicester); F Contepomi (Toulon, capt), N Vergallo (Toulouse); R Roncero (Stade Français), M Ledesma (Clermont), M Scelzo (Clermont), M Carizza (Biarritz), M Galarza (Leinster), G Fessia (Córdoba Athletic), M De Achaval (Alumni), JF Lobbe (Toulon).
Weekend Rugby
Saturday
Internationals– Ireland v Samoa, Aviva Stadium, 2.30pm, K Brown (NZ), live RTÉ 2; Wales v South Africa, Millennium Stadium, 2.30pm, S Walsh (Aus), live BBC 1 Setanta Ireland; England v Australia, Twickenham, 2.30pm, C Joubert (SA), live Sky Sports 1; Scotland v New Zealand, Murrayfield, 5.15, W Barnes (Eng), live BBC 2; France v Fiji, Nantes, 5pm, A Small (England), live RTÉ 2; Italy v Argentina, Verona, 2pm, C Pollack (NZ), live ESPN.
All-Ireland League Division One A– Cork Constitution v Dolphin, Temple Hill, 2.30pm; Young Munster v Blackrock College RFC, Tom Clifford Park, 2.30pm; Old Belvedere v Shannon, Anglesea Road, 4.30pm; St Mary's College RFC v Garryowen, 6pm, Templeville Road. Division One B( all 2.30pm) – Dungannon v Lansdowne, Stevenson Park; Galwegians v Bruff, Crowley Park; UL Bohemains v Buccaneers, TBC. Division Two( all 2.30pm) – Ballnahinch v Thomond, Ballymacarn Park; Belfast Harlequins v Old Wesley, Deramore Park; Clonakilty v Ballymena, The Vale; Corinthians v Malone, Corinthian Park; Midleton v UCD, Towns Park; Old Crescent v Dublin University, Rosbrien; Terenure College RFC v Queen's University, Lakelands Park. Division Three( all 2.30pm) – Wanderers v Banbridge, Merrion Road; Ards v Navan, Hamilton Park; Instonians v Nass, Shaws Bridge; Nenagh Ormond v Seapoint, New Ormond Park; Rainey Old Boys v Greystones, Hatrick Park; Sunday's Well v City of Derry, Musgrave Pk; Suttonians v Highfield, JJ McDowell Park.
Sunday
All Ireland League Division One B – Clontarf v UCC, Castle Avenue, 2.30pm. Division Two– Bective Rangers v DLSP, Donnybrook, 2.30pm. Division Three – NUIM Barnhall v Connemara, Parsonstown, 2.30pm.
