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Tom Youngs starts England midweek game

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Tom Youngs will make his first start of England's summer tour when they take on the South Africa Northern Barbarians in Potchefstroom on Tuesday (kick-off 6.10pm BST).

Youngs, who came on as a replacement for England last week in the midweek victory over South Africa Southern Barbarians, replaces Joe Gray (Harlequins) who moves to the bench.

Youngs, who scored two tries in 15 appearances for Tigers last season, starts in the front row alongside Matt Mullan (Worcester Warriors) and Paul Doran Jones (Northampton Saints).

His Leicester Tigers team-mates Anthony Allen and Graham Kitchener also start the game. Ben Morgan (Scarlets) comes in at No8 for Thomas Waldrom. Karl Dickson (Harlequins), fresh into the squad as an injury replacement for Ben Youngs, will be on the bench with Lee Dickson starting the game.

England Head Coach Stuart Lancaster said: “We have talked about finishing the tour strongly this week and these players have a great opportunity to do this in the second of the two midweek games.

“There are still selection decisions to be made for Saturday but the players’ focus will be on putting in a strong cohesive team performance and building on the positives from last week, but also learning the lessons.

England (v SA Northern Barbarians, Profert Olen Park, 6.10pm BST, live on Sky Sports HD)
15 Nick Abendanon (Bath Rugby)
14 Christian Wade (London Wasps)
13 Anthony Allen (Leicester Tigers)
12 Jordan Turner-Hall (Harlequins)
11 Ugo Monye (Harlequins)
10 Charlie Hodgson (Saracens)
9 Lee Dickson (Northampton Saints)
1 Matt Mullan (Worcester Warriors)
2 Tom Youngs (Leicester Tigers)
3 Paul Doran Jones (Northampton Saints)
4 Graham Kitchener (Leicester Tigers)
5 George Robson (capt, Harlequins)
6 Jamie Gibson (London Irish)
7 Carl Fearns (Bath Rugby)
8 Ben Morgan (Scarlets)

Replacements
16 Joe Gray (Harlequins)
17 Rupert Harden (Gloucester Rugby)
18 Mouritz Botha (Saracens)
19 James Haskell (Otago Highlanders)
20 Karl Dickson (Harlequins)
21 David Strettle (Saracens)
22 Jonny May (Gloucester Rugby)

Meanwhile, England captain Chris Robshaw will miss Saturday’s third Test against South Africa after imaging revealed a crack in the bone of his right thumb. Dylan Hartley will captain the side for the game.

Head coach Stuart Lancaster said: “Chris as you would imagine is devastated. He has led us superbly in the last seven internationals and been one of our standout performers. But the medical advice is that he should not play and we have to trust that expert opinion. Dylan Hartley will captain the side. He has been a key part of our leadership group and I know he will step up to the task on Saturday.”

Robshaw added: “I’m absolutely gutted. I’ve been very proud and honoured to lead this group during the Six Nations and on this tour and it’s a difficult way to end the season. I know the lads can raise themselves for tomorrow and Saturday and I will be doing everything I can to support them.”