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Quirke Replaces Injured Mitchell for Argentina Test

BBC Sport •
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England scrum-half Raffi Quirke has been summoned to the Nations Championship squad for Saturday's Test against Argentina in Santiago del Estero, stepping in for Alex Mitchell after the starter suffered a hamstring injury during the 73-8 rout of Fiji in Liverpool. The 24-year-old, who recently joined Newcastle Red Bulls from Sale Sharks, earns his third involvement under Steve Borthwick after covering for Mitchell during this year's Six Nations as well.

Quirke owns two senior caps and made history in 2021 as England's youngest scrum-half in more than 90 years. He featured for an England XV against a France XV in a warm-up fixture last month, keeping sharp despite limited club minutes. His recall underscores Borthwick's trust in a player who knows the system but has struggled for consistent game time since the move north.

Leicester's Jack van Poortvliet and Bath's Ben Spencer remain the other recognised nines in camp for the final summer Test at Estadio Único Madre de Ciudades. With Mitchell's recurring fitness issues, Quirke has a live chance to stake a claim for the autumn series, provided he converts training form into Test composure against a physical Pumas pack.