Armitage, the London Irish full-back, has been named in England's line-up on Thursday after Mark Cueto was ruled out of the Pool B contest with a back injury.
While Bath’s Matt Banahan has more experience on the wing, Armitage is preferred by England manager Martin Johnson on the back of his impressive performances during the World Cup warm-up matches.
Banahan is included on the bench.
Armitage’s elevation represents a remarkable turn of fortune for the 27 year-old, who missed England’s Six Nations title-winning campaign because of a ban for pushing a doping official after a Premiership match against Bath on New Year’s Day.
He received another ban for a punch on Northampton fly-half Stephen Myler, which deprived him of the chance to play for England against the Barbarians in June.
"I didn't even think I'd be over here so it's a massive turnaround. If you do the hard work, the right things, sometimes you get your rewards," said Armitage.
"I'm really happy the way things have gone. When I was told by Martin that I would be starting he mentioned it was because of the way I'd been training and playing over the summer.
"It's massive satisfaction. To have the opportunity to start now, I'm speechless, it's like a dream come true."
Cueto’s participation in the tournament is not thought to be under threat because of his latest injury problem.
He is expected to be fit to face Georgia in Dunedin in the second match on Sept 18. Johnson, however, is not prepared to risk the Sale wing in the opening game of the tournament, particularly when Armitage has shown such a rich vein of form during England’s warm-up matches, including a try against Ireland.
Cueto had declared himself fit last Friday to face Argentina despite being forced to retire in the first half of the victory over Ireland in England’s final warm-up match with a back problem.
He had said the injury in his back had “referred” down to his quad, which had affected his acceleration.
The fresh setback comes just two days after captain Lewis Moody was ruled out of the tournament opener because of his knee injury.
Saracens scrum-half Richard Wigglesworth has seen off the challenge of a fit-again Ben Youngs to retain his place in the side and make his World Cup debut.
Youngs will be named on the bench. Nick Easter, the Harlequins No 8, returns to England’s back row.
Teams in full:
Argentina
Martin Rodriguez; Horacio Agulla, Gonzalo Tiesi, Santiago Fernandez, Gonzalo Camacho; Felipe Contepomi (capt), Nicolas Vergallo; Juan Martin Fernandez Lobbe, Juan Manuel Leguizamon, Julio Farias Cabello; Patricio Albacete, Manuel Carizza; Juan Figallo, Mario Ledesma, Rodrigo Roncero
Replacements: Agustin Creevy, Martin Scelzo, Mariano Galarza, Alejandro Campos, Alfredo Lalanne, Marcelo Bosch, Juan Jose Imhoff
Martin Rodriguez; Horacio Agulla, Gonzalo Tiesi, Santiago Fernandez, Gonzalo Camacho; Felipe Contepomi (capt), Nicolas Vergallo; Juan Martin Fernandez Lobbe, Juan Manuel Leguizamon, Julio Farias Cabello; Patricio Albacete, Manuel Carizza; Juan Figallo, Mario Ledesma, Rodrigo Roncero
Replacements: Agustin Creevy, Martin Scelzo, Mariano Galarza, Alejandro Campos, Alfredo Lalanne, Marcelo Bosch, Juan Jose Imhoff
Englandx
Ben Foden; Chris Ashton, Manu Tuilagi, Mike Tindall (capt), Delon Armitage; Jonny Wilkinson, Richard Wigglesworth; Nick Easter, James Haskell, Tom Croft; Courtney Lawes, Louis Deacon; Dan Cole, Steve Thompson, Andrew Sheridan
Replacements: Dylan Hartley, Matt Stevens, Tom Palmer, Tom Wood, Ben Youngs, Toby Flood, Matt Banahan
Ben Foden; Chris Ashton, Manu Tuilagi, Mike Tindall (capt), Delon Armitage; Jonny Wilkinson, Richard Wigglesworth; Nick Easter, James Haskell, Tom Croft; Courtney Lawes, Louis Deacon; Dan Cole, Steve Thompson, Andrew Sheridan
Replacements: Dylan Hartley, Matt Stevens, Tom Palmer, Tom Wood, Ben Youngs, Toby Flood, Matt Banahan
Referee: Bryce Lawrence (NZL)
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