Armitage relishing chance

"All the guys had been joking with me and saying 'make sure your phone's on' and 'the reception's not too good round here' and then I got the call! "
Delon Armitage Quotes of the week

With Mathew Tait and Nick Abendanon ruled out through injury, Armitage has gatecrashed England's elite squad to take his place at full-back at the Pacific Islanders.

The call-up, though, has been more than deserved with Armitage in sparkling form this season for London Irish, scoring three tries in the Guinness Premiership.

However, Armitage at first thought the phone call to confirm his inclusion was a joke.

He said: "We'd just come in from training at London Irish to have lunch when I found out.

"All the guys had been joking with me and saying 'make sure your phone's on' and 'the reception's not too good round here' and then I got the call!

"I thought it was one of the boys messing around at first."

The match will see Armitage come head-to-head with two of his London Irish team-mates, with Sailosi Tagicakibau and Seilala Mapusua set to play for the Islanders.

Awesome

And the pair have already warned Armitage to watch out on Saturday at Twickenham.

"I'd had texts from the two guys I know in the Pacific Islands, Sailosi Tagicakibau and Seilala Mapusua, who were saying before I was selected, 'You don't want to play against us!'," he said.

"They're two great players and have been awesome in the Premiership for us, so it'll make it a tough game for England."

Joining Armitage in making his England debut will be fellow Exile Nick Kennedy, who will partner captain Steve Borthwick in the second row.

And Kennedy, rated as one of the best lineout operators in the Premiership, can't wait to finally win his first cap.

He said: "I'm very proud to be getting my first cap at Twickenham. I'm really looking forward to Saturday and am getting very excited, the majority of my family will be there watching me.

"I've been working hard for London Irish and have been striving to play for my country. Training has been great, there is an enormous enthusiasm around the squad."