A non-cap game for England is the perfect chance for any players with World Cup ambitions to stake their claim for a place in the World Cup squad. The team has an exciting blend of experience and youth.
Luke Narraway deservedly captains the team. He has been exceptional for Gloucester Rugby this season. He led the club into 3rd place in the Aviva Premiership when Mike Tindall has been away with England or injured. Narraway is a very different no.8 compared to Nick Easter, he has great pace and hands that some backs would kill for. I believe he would be a valued addition to the squad in New Zealand. Used as an impact sub when teams are tiring he could be very effective.
There have been a few interesting choices. Young prospects such as Henry Trinder, Carl Fearns and Graham Kitchener have been included. Kitchener helped Worcester regain promotion to the Aviva Premiership this season. Trinder has an excellent try-scoring record for Gloucester having scored 13 tries in all competitions this season. A strong performance against the Barbarians and further good performances in the Churchill Cup could land these youngsters a wild-card style pick from manager Martin Johnson. These players have been picked on the basis of excellent form for their clubs. Also this may be an example of planning further ahead than the World Cup in New Zealand this year. A centre partnership of Manu Tuilagi and Henry Trinder would be a very exciting combination of youth, pace and power.
Charlie Hodgson at fly-half will provide direction and he will put England in the right areas of the pitch to play. Other highly experienced club players such as Matt Banahan, Mike Brown and James Simpson-Daniel will provide attacking threat and defensive nous. Banahan’s physicality will provide forward momentum allowing the likes of Ugo Monye, James Simpson-Daniel and Henry Trinder time and space to utilise their pace.
Tom Johnson has had an impressive season for the Exeter Chiefs. He has been a true leader on the pitch and his physicality helped Exeter achieve beyond expectations this season, helping them finish 8th in the Aviva Premiership. Johnson is a powerful ball carrier and a hard hitting flanker. I am sure he will take his chance well.
The Barbarian matches can be great demonstrations of flair and speed. Some of the best players in World Rugby in one team make a great spectacle of rugby. The inclusion of powerful International backs such as Paul Sackey and Mathieu Bastareaud combined with the talented half-back combination of Ruan Pienaar and Frederick Michalak shows a real mix of flair and sheer strength that the Barbarians will exert over their opponents.
The forwards chosen to represent the Baa Baa’s are equally impressive. The back-row combination of Joe van Neikerk, George Smith and Sergio Parrise, (who captains the side) has over 230 international caps between them. This could well be where the match is decided. Their experience and physicality at the breakdown will be a stern test for Tom Johnson, Carl Fearns and Luke Narraway. If the Englishmen can truly compete against this back-row they surely deserve full-international recognition.
The Barbarians have had little time to gel in training. Players have to rely on their natural instincts. One weakness could be Willie Mason, the giant Rugby-League convert playing his first game of Rugby Union (should he be given a start from the bench). I suspect his sheer size and physicality will get him through the game, but his lack of experience of Rugby Union’s defensive lines and tactics may be an area to exploit. Bannahan and Trinder will be ready to pounce on defensive frailties.
Prediction: Barbarians to win by 10. It will be a close game, but the experience and quality throughout the Barbarians team will prevail. Any naivety will be exploited at this level. However, the English side will give it their all. The youngsters will dream of replicating this moment courtesy of James Simpson-Daniel vs. Barbarians in 2002 when he ran rings around Jonah Lomu.
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