Steffon Armitage

Martin Johnson's young England side face another stiff task when they take on Argentina in Manchester on Saturday. Johnson's team were beaten 26-33 by a scratch Barbarians side at Twickenham last week but face another step up when they take on the Pumas - who finished third in the 2007 World Cup. With nine Englishmen on Lions duty in South Africa the game - and next weekend's Test in Salta, Argentina - represent a golden chance for them to stake a claim for a regular starting spot. Twenty-three year-old flanker Steffon Armitage has another chance after being dropped following a disappointing display against Italy ... Read Full Story

London Irish will face Leicester in the Premiership final after sealing a comfortable 17-0 victory over Harlequins in Saturday's semi-final at the Twickenham Stoop. After 42 minutes, six missed penalties and two changes of kicker, it was Irish who finally took control when Delon Armitage booted Irish ahead. Substitute second row James Hudson crossed to put the Exiles in the driving seat and when Mike Catt added the second in a dominant final quarter it was all over. Irish finished third in the Premiership, one place behind Quins, but they possessed greater nous than their London rivals, who saw four kickable first-half penalties go ... Read Full Story

England coach Martin Johnson has handed first starts to six players in the squad to play the Barbarians at Twickenham on Saturday. Harlequins Chris Robshaw and Jordan Turner-Hall are named at blindside and in the centre, while Northampton duo Dylan Hartley and Ben Foden start at hooker and right wing, with Bath's Matt Banahan starting on the left wing and Newcastle's David Wilson at tighthead. Johnson also called up captain Steve Borthwick and full-backl Delon Armitage, who played throughout the 2009 Six Nations campaign, while hooker Steve Thompson and flanker James Haskell are among the replacements. The game will be England's final appearance of ... Read Full Story

Given England's historical propensity towards selectorial cowardice, I'm not really sure why I'm so very disappointed in the wake Humungous Jonno's squad announcement. Perhaps it's because I actually like rugby as well as England. The disgusting aberration that is Jamie Noon has been done around these parts many times before, so I will not labour it here, other than to make the point that, with the inclusion of Tindall, they cannot even use the experience excuse for his selection. Almost any selection at 13 would be better than Noon: Armitage, Jon Clarke, Tindall, my partially-sighted sister-in-law. Olly Morgan and Ben Foden are a nod ... Read Full Story

London Irish back-row Steffon Armitage, the brother of Test full-back Delon, was called up Monday into England's squad for the Six Nations after Lewis Moody was ruled out with a broken ankle. England manager Martin Johnson said of the uncapped loose forward: "Steffon has been in very good form for London Irish this season and deserves his opportunity." Steffon Armitage, 23, who saw his older brother make his England debut against the Pacific Islanders in November, has been in impressive form for the Exiles so far this season. But it looked as if he would miss out on an England call for the Six ... Read Full Story