Phil Dowson of Northampton and Brad Barritt of Saracens will make their first starts of England's senior tour in tomorrow's final match, against the New Zealand Maori in Napier.
Both were late arrivals in Australia, where the first four matches of the trip were played, after starting the summer with the England second team, the Saxons, at the Churchill Cup in the United States. Dowson, a No8 who many thought unlucky not to make the squad in the first place, replaced the injured Leeds flanker Hendre Fourie in the senior part and came off the bench in the second match against the Australian Barbarians, in Gosford last week.
Barritt, a South African who follows two New Zealanders, Riki Flutey and Shontayne Hape, into England's midfield, joined the squad last Friday after an injury to the Wasps centre Dominic Waldouck.
Martin Johnson, the England team manager, said: "You are always disappointed to get injuries but this has worked out for us in some regards, in that we get to look at [Dowson and Barritt] at the highest level. They are good guys and were unlucky to miss out, frankly. They are bright enough to know they get a good chance tomorrow."
This match will provide a last chance for players to influence Johnson before he names his 32-man elite player squad for next season next month.
Ronan O'Gara will begin what could be his 100th Test on Ireland's bench in Brisbane on Saturday. Jonathan Sexton starts against Australia, after playing well in the Irish second string's defeat by the Maori last Friday.
Ireland have made six changes to the team who were soundly beaten by the All Blacks 10 days ago. The Ulster No8 Chris Henry will win his first cap in the absence of the suspended Jamie Heaslip.
As expected, injuries have forced Australia to be conservative, Robbie Deans making two changes to the team beaten 21-20 by England in Sydney on Saturday. Adam Ashley-Cooper replaces the injured Digby Ioane on the wing and Luke Burgess returns in place of Will Genia at scrum-half.
New Zealand have picked Dan Carter for the second Test against Wales in Hamilton on Saturday, though he may not be fit. If Carter's calf injury persists he will be replaced by Aaron Cruden.
Wales, who do not know whether their first-choice fly-half, Stephen Jones, will be fit, thanks to a hand injury sustained in their 42-9 defeat in Dunedin last weekend, have been reported to be favouring Dan Biggar regardless.
Worcester, under a new head coach, Richard Hill, have announced that the backs and defence coach Billy McGinty will be leaving the club. Tony Windo is to become scrum coach.
England v New Zealand Maori, Napier, tomorrow D Armitage; Strettle, Tait, Barritt, Ashton; Hodgson, Care; Flatman, Chuter, Doran-Jones, Attwood, Parling, Robshaw (capt), S Armitage, Dowson. Replacements Webber, Cole, Ward-Smith, Haskell, Youngs, Geraghty, Foden.
New Zealand v Wales, Hamilton, Saturday Muliaina; Jane, Kahui , Stanley, Guildford; Carter, Cowan; Woodcock, Mealamu, Tialata; Thorn, Donnelly, Kaino, McCaw (capt), Read. Replacements De Malmanche, Franks, Whitelock, Thomson, Weepu, Cruden, Ranger.
Australia v Ireland, Brisbane, Saturday O'Connor; Mitchell, Horne, Giteau, Ashley-Cooper: Cooper, Burgess; Daley, Faingaa, Ma'afu; Mumm, Sharpe, Elsom (capt), Pocock, Brown. Replacements Edmonds, Slipper, Chisholm, Hodgson, Valentine, Barnes, Beale.
Ireland Kearney; Bowe, O'Driscoll (capt), P Wallace, Trimble; Sexton, O'Leary; Healy, Cronin, Buckley, O'Callaghan, O'Driscoll, Ronan, Jennings, Henry. Replacements Varley, Court, Tuohy, Ruddock, Reddan, O'Gara, G Murphy.
