England vs Barbarians Match Preview

By Kath 28/5/04
May 28 2004

England's Head Coach Sir Clive Woodward has handed a massive opportunity to ALL players who take to the field on Sunday against the Baa Baas.

 

Staffware Tour - England vs Barbarians  - Sunday 30th May 2004

England's Head Coach Sir Clive Woodward has handed a massive opportunity to ALL  players who take to the field on Sunday against the Baa Baas.  Many of these players are on the cusp of the Elite Squad Hugh Vyvyan and Jamie Noon to name just two.  Both of these players will have to go into this match with the mind set that they must not only perform but perform really well!   

“I have played in the last couple of games and I am very excited about it, especially captaining the team,” said Vyvyan. “The Powergen Cup was fantastic and very emotional for me, and to be captain of England is awesome so it's an important day for me personally."

Sir Clive selected the side to play the Barbarians after last Sunday's results in the Heineken Cup, which determined the four Zurich Premiership sides involved in the cup final and wild card final this Saturday and thus unavailable for selection against the Barbarians.

The Barbarians are a rugby club bringing players from different clubs together to play for the enjoyment and camaraderie of the game their ethos is to play attacking, adventurous rugby without the pressure of having to win.   Now then they did not win against Wales in fact they were very ponderous and at times quite boring!   So will the Baa Baas team come out wanting a piece of England, even these tender young fledgling England Players - Yes!  of course they will.  The Barbarians will be smarting after that defeat against Wales and there is no doubt in my mind that they will be after an England scalp young or otherwise.

The Barbarians do not have a clubhouse or home ground. They tour at the invitation of clubs all over the world they have played in 18 countries  A player receives an invitation to player for the Barbarians on the understanding that they their rugby is of a good standard and they behave themselves both on and off the field.  Once invited a player becomes a life member of the club they wear the hooped jersey but retain the socks of their own home clubs.

Jason Leonard and Mark Andrews will play the last matches of their illustrious careers after being named in the Barbarians side.

England: M Horak (London Irish); P Sackey (London Irish), J Noon (Newcastle Vice Captain), K Sorrell (Saracens), M Garvey (Gloucester); D Walder (Newcastle), N Walshe (Sale Sharks); M Worsley (Harlequins), M Regan (Leeds), R Morris (Northampton), M Cornwell (Gloucester), A Brown (Gloucester), D Hyde (Leeds), A Hazell (Gloucester), H Vyvyan (Newcastle,Captain).

Replacements: C Fortey (Gloucester), J Dawson (Harlequins), P Buxton (Gloucester), D Fox (Northampton), H Charlton (Newcastle), T May (Newcastle), D Scarbrough (Leeds).

Barbarians: T Castaignede (Saracens & France), S Horgan (Leinster & Ireland), B O'Driscoll (Leinster & Ireland), N Grey (NSW Waratahs & Australia), B Reihana (Northampton & New Zealand), D Humphreys (Ulster & Ireland), M Robinson (Northampton & New Zealand), J Leonard (Harlequins & England), A Oliver (Otago Highlanders & New Zealand), C Visagie (Saracens & South Africa), M O'Kelly (Leinster & Ireland), M Andrews (Newcastle Falcons & South Africa), O Finegan (ACT Brumbies & Australia), A Vos (Harlequins & South Africa), T Randell (Saracens & New Zealand).

Replacements: M Sexton (Ulster), G Feek (Auckland Blues & New Zealand), O Magne (Montferrand & France), B Skinstad (Newport Gwent Dragons & South Africa), N De Kock (Western Stormers & South Africa), D Traille (Pau & France), M Burke (NSW Waratahs & Australia).

and now for the final time this Six Nations.......... my usual cry...............

And you, good yeoman,
Whose limbs were made in England, show us here
The mettle of your pasture; let us swear
That you are worth your breeding; which I doubt not;
For there is none of you so mean and base,
That hath not noble lustre in your eyes.
I see you stand like greyhounds in the slips,
Straining upon the start. The game's afoot:
Follow your spirit, and upon this charge
Cry 'God for Harry, England, and Saint George!'

Henry V (1599) Act3, Scene1

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