In all there are seven changes to the side that started the 34-13 defeat in the group stages by New Zealand.

Adam Greendale (Leeds Tykes) returns at fly-half, Joe Williams (Cinderford) at hooker, Gregor Gillanders (Leicester) in the second-row and Garth Dew (Sale Sharks) in the back-row. Prop Billy Moss (Bath Rugby) and flanker Jonathan Fisher (London Irish) emulate Pointon in being given their first starts.

A reshuffle in the back-line sees Gareth Griffiths (Bristol Rugby) move from 10 to 12 and Alex Tait (Newcastle Falcons) to outside centre.

“So far everybody had played a part in the tournament but not everybody has started and we wanted to freshen up the side after three games in quick succession,” said head coach Nigel Redman. “We’re looking to Joe Williams to give us a lead in the front-row, Billy Moss and Garth Dew will both be fresh and Jon Fisher came on and did well against New Zealand. That freshness extends to the choices we’ve made at nine and 10.

“Alex Tait has played an important part in every game this season and we’d like to try him at 13 to give us two guys in midfield who have played at 10 in Greendale and Griffiths, so we’re looking to be more creative without losing anything in defence.”

England beat Argentina 17-15 in the group stages with tries from Tait and captain Hugo Ellis but have to play the Pumas a second time in the play-offs for sides ranked fifth to eighth in the league table after the group stages.

A win this evening and victory over either France or Samoa on Saturday would secure the side fifth place overall in the 2007 World Championship.

“It can be difficult after you’ve already played and beaten a side, so what we have to focus on is doing the job better than we did last time,” added Redman. “But things haven’t changed too much. Although we’ve been beaten by New Zealand, we’re not out of the competition and we have to move on and finish as strongly as we can by claiming fifth place.”

England Under-19 v Argentina
15 Alex Goode (Saracens)
14 Miles Benjamin (Worcester Warriors)
13 Alex Tait (Newcastle Falcons)
12 Gareth Griffiths (Bristol Rugby)
11 Noah Cato (Saracens)
10 Adam Greendale (Leeds Tykes & Hymers College)
9 Danny Pointon (Northampton Saints)
1 Billy Moss (Bath Rugby)
2 Joe Williams (Gloucester Rugby)
3 Nathan Catt (Bath Rugby)
4 Ben Thomas (Saracens)
5 Gregor Gillanders (Leicester Tigers)
6 Jon Fisher (London Irish & Wellington College)
7 Garth Dew (Sale Sharks)
8 Hugo Ellis (Captain, London Wasps)

Replacements: Jack Steadman (Bristol Rugby), Alex Corbisiero (London Irish), Scott Freer (Leeds Tykes), Tom Denton (Leeds Tykes), Matthew Cox (Worcester Warriors) Andy Saull (Saracens), Richard Bolt (Exeter Chiefs), Joe Simpson (London Wasps), Greg King (Worcester Warriors & Hartpury College), Tom Bedford (Exeter Chiefs), David Smith (Northampton Saints)