Barbarians name team for England

BARBARIANS TEAM

(15-9) Jeanjean (Brive); Sackey (Toulon), Baby (Clermont Auvergne), Bastareaud (Stade Francais), Visser (Edinburgh); Michalak (Toulouse), Pienaar (Ulster);

(1-8 ) Perugini (Aironi), Ghiraldini (Benetton Treviso), Kubriashvili (Toulon), Lund (Biarritz), Tito (Cardiff Blues), Van Niekerk (Toulon), Smith (Toulon), Parisse (Stade Francais, capt).

Replacements: Bruno (Toulon), Hayman (Toulon), Geldenhuys (Aironi), Williams (Cardiff Blues), Tillous-Borde (Castres Olympique), Mason (Toulon), Rabini (La Rochelle).

http://www.barbarianfc.co.uk/news/480/parisse-captain-against-england/

Isn't a shame that some of the top players from clubs in the Top14 and Magners League are named, and yet Premier Rugby can't see fit to release any English based players for one of Rugby Unions great showcases?

That is some serious talent in that Baa Baas lineup. England have a relatively inexperienced team and could well struggle if the game becomes open.

Pete, do you think if Sackey goes well he could earn a recall for England in the summer?

I think it is unlikely. Johnson seems to like physically powerful players all over the pitch, and Sackey doesn't fall into that category. I would be very surprised, even though he ahs played well every time I've seen him for Toulon this year.

Pretty decent pack that. I guess this confirms as expected the Welsh players are being held back to face Wales.

If those backs click, England could really be up against it. I'll be interested to watch Nicolas Jeanjean play, it's been so long since he played for France I'd forgotten all about him.

What an amazing backrow. Incredible.

That's a really good team, am looking forward to this one, especially to see how Visser goes. Am really pleased for him that he's been picked!

Notch - Premier rugby =

Sackey is a great talent. England will always be a country who have to leave talent out of their squad. Monye was immense on the lions tour. Sackey delivered an almighty World Cup campaign. James Simpson Daniel has been one of most consistent wingers in England for last 5 years. And yet its Strettle, Ashton, Banahan and Cueto in contention. I think Ireland is going to have to face this and it will be a problem for some fans.

Now that's what you call a BaBaas team.

Benoit Baby & Bastereaux could be a wonderful partnership in the midfield for the BaBaas.

England could be in trouble in this one - depending on the mishmash of tactics that scott (the buffoned Bufoon) Johnson chooses for the BaBaa's backs.

Yeah but if he says "jast gaw awd they're and chuck it aboaud" they will be able to.

I don't think Michalak knows any other way to play at 10- and Pienaar will give him the ball he needs. Could get interesting.

Apparently Davit Kubriashvili is the first Georgian to play for the Barbarians. Who knew?

England side announced...


England XV: Mike Brown (Harlequins); James Simpson-Daniel (Gloucester Rugby), Henry Trinder (Gloucester Rugby), Matt Banahan (Bath Rugby), Ugo Monye (Harlequins); Charlie Hodgson (Sale Sharks), Paul Hodgson (London Irish); Joe Marler (Harlequins), David Paice (London Irish), Paul Doran-Jones (Gloucester Rugby), Graham Kitchener (Worcester Warriors), David Attwood (Gloucester Rugby), Tom Johnson (Exeter Chiefs), Carl Fearns (Sale Sharks), Luke Narraway (Gloucester Rugby, captain)

Replacements: Joe Gray (Harlequins), Kieran Brookes (Newcastle Falcons), James Gaskell (Sale Sharks), Jamie Gibson (London Irish), Micky Young (Newcastle Falcons), Stephen Myler (Northampton Saints), Jordan Turner-Hall (Harlequins)

Some great potential in there, and really interested to see how Banahan goes at 12. Really looking forward to this game.

Congratulations Tommy Johnson :applause:

I think he's earned a shot As, but will struggle to break into the World Cup squad, as England have a fair few good blinsides and I can't see MJ taking a risk, he's just not that sort of coach.

I'm really interested to see how big Vis gets on at "Test Level" rugby. I know I'm not the only Scotland / Edinburgh fan who thinks Vis has what it takes to be a fantastic strike runner and can possibly be the man who can get Scotland over the try line more often.

Being the top try scorer in the ML is not because he runs in easy tries, I loved the try he scored against the O's when he left Tommy Bowe for dead.

The Man has talent and I am really looking forward to the game.

The back line seems to have a fantastic blend of pace and power, and that back row will be very strong indeed.

RuggerRadge2611 wrote:I'm really interested to see how big Vis gets on at "Test Level" rugby. I know I'm not the only Scotland / Edinburgh fan who thinks Vis has what it takes to be a fantastic strike runner and can possibly be the man who can get Scotland over the try line more often.

Being the top try scorer in the ML is not because he runs in easy tries, I loved the try he scored against the O's when he left Tommy Bowe for dead.

The Man has talent and I am really looking forward to the game.

The back line seems to have a fantastic blend of pace and power, and that back row will be very strong indeed.

Radge, spot on, he's not held that accolade for two years on the trot for no reason

This is a non-cap game unfortunately for the likes of Johnson, Trinder and Brookes. But their first caps are probably not far away.

I fancied England but given how weakened their team is, now I'm not so sure. I think the Barbarians by 7 but should be a great game!

Really like the England team, it is mostly progressive and forward looking. I’m pleased that Tom Johnson has been given international recognition.

Paice aside, I think we’ll be seeing a lot of these frontrowers in the England frame over the next couple of years. I’m tipping Brookes and Marler to have played in the full test squad by this time next year. Joe Gray has been excellent for Harlequins this year, with Thompson’s probable retirement after the world cup he will be staking a claim to be Hartley’s back up.

The back five of the scrum looks good, nearly all of them have got long test careers ahead of them, possibly apart from Johnson who has age and a lot of competition against him. In my opinion Courtney Lawes, Dave Attwood, Graham Kitchener are the future of the English second row.

Gibson’s inclusion is a bit of a pleasant surprise too. Hopefully at some point in the game he will replace Narraway and we can see Fearns at no.8. Mark my words, Fearns will be the England no.8 by the end of next season.

I like the backline too. Hodgson may be on his way out, but he should provide a steadying influence on some of the lesser experienced lads. I’m a little perplexed about Banahan playing twelve, but I suppose we are getting desperate to uncover some long term replacements for the likes of DJ Shape and Flutey. Still, would have preferred to see JTH in there. It’s a shame that Adam Powell (Saracens) and Dom Waldouck (Wasps) have suffered with injuries as they could potentially play there.

Trinder represents a fresh new generation of outside centres that are starting to make themselves known in the AP. The likes of Manu Tuilagi (Leicester), George Lowe (Harlequins), Elliot Daly (Wasps), Ben Williams (Bath) and Jon Joseph (London Irish) should provide good competition in the coming years. It is just that damn 12 shirt that remains perplexing.