Huddersfield rugby union products Luther Burrell and Kearnan Myall will both line-up for England in tomorrow’s South American tour opener against the Consur XV in Montevideo.
Northampton centre Burrell, 25, will make his England debut while it’s a second senior appearance for Wasps-bound lock Myall, 26.
Burrell’s Northampton teammate, flanker Tom Wood, will captain an England team featuring 13 changes from the one who beat the Barbarians last weekend, when Myall, who like Burrell is a former Leeds player, made his bow as a replacement.
Wasps No8 Billy Vunipola makes his first senior England start on the same weekend as his brother Mako lines up for the British and Irish Lions, who face the Barbarians in Hong Kong today.
It’s England’s final hit-out before the two-Test series against Argentina.
For Ben Foden, it’s a chance to bounce back after a frustrating 12 months on the England sidelines.
The Northampton full-back suffered an ankle injury in October which ruled him out of the autumn international series, the RBS 6 Nations and cost him any hope of Lions involvement.
He returned to form with an electrifying performance in the Aviva Premiership final, when Burrell also featured in the Northampton side beaten 37-17 by Leicester, and he is now focused on giving head coach Stuart Lancaster a selection headache.
“First and foremost it will be nearly a year since I put on the white shirt of England and there’s going to be a sense of pride, said Foden.
“The hunger for the big stage is back. The Premiership final was a big occasion because it was first time I had played in front of 80,000 people in a year.
“It ignited that passion and excitement you miss when you don’t play international rugby. Having done that a few times for England I want to get back there. On Sunday, I will have that chance.”
