Vesty gets England nod

Sam Vesty is one of six uncapped players called up by Martin Johnson for the summer Test series against Argentina.

In-form Leicester fly-half selected ahead of Cipriani

Sam Vesty is one of six uncapped players called up by Martin Johnson for the summer Test series against Argentina. The selection of the in-form Leicester fly-half means there is again no place for Danny Cipriani, who has instead been included in the Saxons squad for the Churchill Cup. Other uncapped players in the England squad announced on Tuesday include Newcastle prop David Wilson and Tom May, who has been playing at fly-half for the Falcons. Gloucester prop Nick Wood and Harlequins pair Chris Robshaw and Jordan Turner-Hall are the other new faces.

Recalled

Johnson has also recalled 2003 World Cup-winning hooker Steve Thompson, who won the last of his 47 England caps off the bench in March 2006 before spending the best part of a year in retirement after suffering a neck injury. Steve Borthwick will captain the 34-man squad, which also includes recalls for Lewis Moody after an injury-plagued season and Ben Kay, who won his last cap on the 2008 summer tour to New Zealand. Johnson's options were reduced as England are providing eight players to the Lions while he was also unable to consider Paul Sackey, Mike Tindall, Jonny Wilkinson, Toby Flood and Tom Palmer due to injury. The manager said: "This is a very strong squad full of a mixture of experience and young talent.

Opportunity

"I'm sure that any of the uncapped players will take the step up from the Saxons to the senior Test arena if they are given the opportunity. "I'm looking forward to all the games and the three-day training camp this week, which will give us further invaluable time with the squad." England play the Barbarians at Twickenham on May 30 before tackling the Pumas home and away - at Old Trafford on June 6 and in Salta a week later. Squad - Forwards: S Armitage (London Irish), S Borthwick (Saracens, capt), G Chuter (Leicester), J Crane (Leicester), T Croft (Leicester), L Deacon (Leicester), N Easter (Harlequins), D Hartley (Northampton), J Haskell (Wasps), B Kay (Leicester), N Kennedy (London Irish), L Moody (Leicester), T Payne (Wasps), T Rees (Wasps), C Robshaw (Harlequins), S Thompson (CA Brive), J White (Leicester), D Wilson (Newcastle), N Wood (Gloucester)
Backs: D Armitage (London Irish), D Care (Harlequins), M Cueto (Sale Sharks), B Foden (Northampton), A Goode (CA Brive), J Turner-Hall (Harlequins), D Hipkiss (Leicester), P Hodgson (London Irish), T May (Newcastle), O Morgan (Gloucester), J Noon (Newcastle), D Strettle(Harlequins), M Tait (Sale Sharks), S Vesty (Leicester), R Wigglesworth (Sale Sharks).