England 17 Barbarians 14
Jill Tipping

It was not a very pretty match and both teams will have come away feeling less than satisfied I am sure, but it was good to see a new England line-up bravely taking on the far more experienced Barbarians at Twickenham this weekend. Will Greenwood suggested it was 'dire' during his commentary. I am not sure Rob Andrew was very pleased with this comment when it was disclosed to him during the post match interview. In fact, Rob Andrew seemed to think it was all the Barbarian's fault as they had not played in the spirit that they used to - I really didn't understand that comment. I thought the match was fiesty (see great pic of Captain Nick Easter and Justin Harrison below!!) and a bit different, if not particularly encouraging for the summer tour.

I thought that both Nick Easter and Dylan Hartley put in excellent performances. It was a shame not to see Topsy or David Strettle get into gear at any stage. In fact, I don't think David Strettle got his shirt dirty in the second half, let along break into a sweat. OK, so the ball never seemed to reach the left wing - surely then the wing needs to go and find it on occasions - the only time it did get out to the left wing, Ojo (who had come over to 'find the ball' from his own wing) swept it up before Stettle could get it.

It is interesting to see how players who thrill us week in and week out at premiership matches, seem to freeze when they get on the international stage. The occasion must be massive for them and it seems to effect some players more than others. Nothing seems to effect Dylan Hartley who has spent the season playing in National 1 but still bulldozed his way through the second half of the match.  The metres he made were exceptional - look out Lee Meers! Tait also coped well and made some great breaks, but he is getting used to the international arena now, especially with his 7's involvement.

Martin Johnson was not at the match and Rob did look a bit lonely, but it needs to be remembered that this was a warm up match and that the players from the top two premiership teams were not there following the previous day's GP final. So I would say that it was an OK match which gave some new boys the chance to show what they are made of. Roll on 14th June!!

BIRD'S EYE VIEW
By RFTG Reporter Lucy Smith

So the Martin Johnson reign as England head coach has started.  Although Martin's contract does not officially start until 1 July, he was involved in the selection of the squad and was seen at the England camp wearing his rather snazzy England Rugby tracksuit last Wednesday (28 May).  The England squad which is going out to face the All Blacks and which face the Barbarians have been shorn of some big name players due to been given time off (Simon Shaw and Harry Ellis - both due to rehab), having much needed operations (Jonny Wilkinson and James Simpson - Daniel) or due to unfortunate last minute injuries       (Danny Cipriani, Dan Hipkiss and Paul Sackey).

So with some hype for the future of England rugby under the stewardship of Johnson, England took to the field last Sunday against the Barbarians.  The games against the Baa- Baas at Twickenham close the season after the premiership has finished and before England go on their summer tour.  In the past, the games between England and the Baa - Baas are normally open and fast with some up and coming starlets of England come up against their more experience rivals playing for the Barbarians.  (Think back to the game between England and the Baa-Baas game of 2002 when James Simpson- Daniel scored a sensational try after sending Jonah Lomu the wrong way with a dummy and then out sprinting him to the corner.

The first half of Sunday's game was a scrappy affair with both sides struggling to keep hold of the ball.  It didn't help that the Baa - Baas couldn't win their own line-out due to great work from the lock pairing of Nick Kennedy of London Irish and Chris Jones of Sale.  Andy Gormasall, playing for the Baa - Baas rather than England, was given kicking duties and had an early chance to send them into an early lead but he missed the relatively easy chance.  Toby Flood, who according to rumours is going to Leicester this summer, took his chance with a penalty and landed the conversion 14 minutes later after Nick Easter, captain for the day, barged his way over the try line.  After this the rest of the first half, was a non - event as both sides gave up possession with amazing regularity.  It didn't get much better for England as Charlie Hodgson went off with a head injury after a clash of heads with the former All Black Jerry Collins.  The cut on Charlie's cheekbone required 13 stitches and he didn't reappear for the second half. 

The second half was a vast improvement on the first and to be frank, it couldn't be worse.  Seilala Mapusua, the London Irish centre, got the Baa - Baas back into the game with an interception try which Andy Gormasall duly converted.  Mapusua also made a brilliant break from within his own 22 but it came to nothing.  Toby Flood left the field with blood coming from his nose after a high shot from South African Pedrie Wannenburg, however, Mike Brown the Quins full-back missed the penalty. 

One of the few highlights was Matthew Tait's try as he stepped inside Mapusua and cruised over for a very easy try and Mike Brown added the conversion via a drop goal. 

All in all a frustrating day at Twickenham after the enjoyable Guinness Premiership final the day before.

England: M Brown (Harlequins); T Ojo (London Irish), M Tait (Newcastle), T Flood (Newcastle), D Strettle (Harlequins); C Hodgson (Sale), R Wigglesworth (Sale); N Lloyd (Saracens), D Paice (London Irish), J Hobson (Bristol), C Jones (Sale Sharks), N Kennedy (London Irish), L Narraway (Gloucester), W Skinner (Harlequins), N Easter (Harlequins, capt).
Replacements: D Hartley (Northampton), D Wilson (Newcastle), S Hooper (Leeds), T Guest (Harlequins), D Care (Harlequins), P Richards (London Irish), U Monye (Harlequins).

Barbarians: T Delport (Worcester); G Thomas (Cardiff Blues), M Turinui (Queensland), S Mapusua (London Irish), I Balshaw (Gloucester); S Larkham (unattached), A Gomarsall (Harlequins); F Pucciariello (Munster), M Regan (Bristol, capt), C Visagie (Saracens), K Chesney (Saracens), J Harrison (Ulster), J Collins (unattached), M Molitika (Cardiff Blues), P Wannenburg (Blue Bulls).
Replacements: S Bruno (Sale), P Collazo (Gloucester), S Dellape (Biarritz), D Croft, M Claassens (Bath), G Jackson, J Pretorius (Lions).

BBC Report