Tait wins his first start for England since making his international debut against Wales in this years RBS 6 Nations. The 19-year-old was immediately dropped following a torrid afternoon at the Millennium Stadium.

He was the victim of two memorable hits from Gavin Henson and England head coach Andy Robinson attracted criticism from some for his treatment of one of the nations most promising talents.

A hamstring injury prevented him featuring in the 29-5 Churchill Cup victory over Canada but he has been given the chance to impress during Sundays non-cap international at the Commonwealth Stadium.

Lydon said: Mathew could probably have played last weekend but he wasnt 100%.

He had a little hamstring tear but there was no point playing him when we had fully fit players available for selection.

This is an opportunity for Mathew to show what he can do.

Hes a world class athlete and weve tried to give him some help - pointers on what he should or shouldnt do.

Hes still developing so there is much more to come from him.

Tait lined-up at centre against Wales but Lydon has opted to deploy him on the left wing on Sunday - a decision which was influenced by need to use all of the 25-strong squad at some point during the tournament.

The coach continued: We intended to play everyone at some point.

In the past players have returned from the Churchill Cup without being involved in a match.

Weve given consideration to that and thats why Mathew is on the wing.

We took into account what was needed against Argentina but also the wider picture on selection.

Sometimes its derogatory to call someone a utility player but Mathew has the potential to fill most positions in the backline.

Lydon has made four changes to the side which dispatched Canada in unconvincing fashion with Tait, Wasps full-back Tom Voyce, Gloucester scrum-half Peter Richards and Bath hooker Lee Mears featuring in the starting line-up.

Mike Shelley, the Leeds prop, and Bath centre Andy Higgins are promoted to the bench after missing out last weekend, joining blockbusting centre Ayoola Erinle, who remains among the substitutes despite impressing in the second half against Canada.

Richards replaces Andy Gomarsall with the Worcester half-back handing the vice captaincy over to Perpignans New Zealand born prop Perry Freshwater.

Lydon said: Perry and the whole of the tight five were good in the set piece against Canada.

He was a cornerstone of the front row, demonstrating first class discipline and leadership qualities.

Ugo Monye was the only player unavailable for selection with the Harlequins winger still suffering from the thigh injury he sustained after being tripped by substitute hooker Mike Hobson in the fractious clash with Canada.

Lydon said: Ugo is coming on nicely so there was a good chance he could be fit for the weekend. But we wanted to name the team early so that the players knew what was happening and he wasnt quite right.

We wanted to go with a team we know is fit and healthy.

Its a shame for Ugo because he will have only played for 40 minutes, which is not as much as he or I would have liked.

England had two players - Leicester duo Louis Deacon and Andy Goode - sent to the sin bin for fighting against Canada and it could be a similarly feisty encounter with Argentina.

Pumas Pablo Henn, Santiago Artese and Jaime Arocena were cited for alleged acts of foul play in the tournament opener against the USA but a disciplinary hearing has ruled all three are available for Sunday.

Lydon said: We emphasise the need to self control before every game. We had two players sin-binned against Canada but I thought our discipline was good. We want to match Argentina physically, he said.

England team to play Argentina in the final of the Churchill Cup at the Commonwealth Stadium, Edmonton on Sunday (KO 10.10pm BST):

T Voyce (Wasps); P Sackey (Wasps), J Simpson-Daniel (Gloucester), C Bell (Leeds), M Tait (Newcastle); A Goode (Leicester), P Richards (Wasps); P Freshwater (Perpignan, vice captain), L Mears (Bath), S Turner (Sale), L Deacon (Leicester), T Palmer (Leeds), C Jones (Sale), P Sanderson (Worcester, captain), P Dowson (Newcastle).

Replacements: G Chuter (Leicester), M Shelley (Leeds), S Hooper (Leeds), J Forrester (Gloucester), A Gomarsall (Worcester), A Erinle (Wasps), A Higgins (Bath).