Defiant England were defeated but unbowed at Twickenham as a vastly more experienced Barbarians side recorded an expected win. Not for the first time, Jonah Lomu was the English tormentor, grabbing a try and creating two more to round off an unbeaten three-match tour.
Also on the scoresheet was 35year-old Jeremy Guscott, fittingly rounding off an illustrious career at Twickenham, even if England were this time the opponents.
Amid the traditional Barbarians' ambitious style, England can be quietly pleased with themselves. And as his 40-strong squad leaves for their three-Test tour to North America tomorrow, coach Clive Woodward can reflect on impressive displays from Leon Lloyd, Julian White and two-try star Paul Sampson.
But whether Simon Shaw and Ben Johnston will make the flight remains to be seen. Shaw limped off and try-scorer Johnston had to be stretchered away from the action, the worst casualties amid a series of niggling injuries sustained by a fledgling England squad already well stretched.
In an opening period they largely dominated, the Barbarians took less than three minutes to score the first try. Pat Howard - on his final appearance on English soil before heading home to Australia - skipped through a weak Kyran Bracken tackle. Joe Vidiri was next over, followed by Guscott's cameo.
But it was Lomu who the crowd rose to acclaim every time he touched the ball.
Three times he almost barged through from various positions but when Howard's quick line-out found Robin Brooke, the lock's quarter-back style throw provided a chance to which Lomu needed no second invitation.
If at times England seemed fully stretched in defence, they had plenty going for them in attack. Dave Walder, attempting to seal the fly-half berth, made an encouraging start, as did Josh Lewsey before he gave way to a rib injury.
ENGLAND: Stimpson; Sampson, Lloyd, Lewsey, Stephenson; Walder, Bracken; Woodman, Regan, White, Shaw, Borthwick, A. Sanderson, Worsley, Hazell.
BARBARIANS: Murphy; Vidiri, J Little, Howard, Lomu; Van Straaten, Gomarsall; Pagel, Drotske, Dowd, Brooke, I Jones, Lam, Teichmann, Kronfeld.
Referee: C Thomas (RFU).
