RUGBY DIGEST: Irish and English Rugby
IRELAND TRAINING: The majority of Eddie O'Sullivan's Irish squad for South Africa got the ideal pre-tour warm-up as the Whites beat the Blues 29-19 in a behind-closed-door match at Lansdowne Road yesterday, reports Gavin Cummiskey.
The only major injury concerns were Peter Stringer (shoulder) and Reggie Corrigan (knee) but both are expected to recover.
Notably, the only non-capped player, Gavin Duffy, was selected at centre alongside Mike Mullins.
"He's played outside centre before. It's something I'm looking at going forward. I'm not locking players into one position in the outside backs. O'Driscoll is 12 and 13, D'Arcy is 13, wing and full back so he fits into that category," explained O'Sullivan.
The game itself was fairly lethargic with the sides completely mixed up, lacking any similarity to a probable international line-up with the exception of the Blues' (who were actually wearing green) back row and half backs being the same that played Scotland in the Triple Crown decider.
"It was always going to be sloppy because they haven't played together before. It was just to get a run-out and a lot of contact as without it they'd be going into the test without a game for a month," added the Irish coach.
Several frontline players were absent because of the Barbarians/England game this weekend (Brian O'Driscoll, Shane Horgan, Malcolm O'Kelly and David Humphreys) while Donncha O'Callaghan, Girvan Dempsey and Gordon D'Arcy are still recovering from injury.
SCORERS: Whites: A Horgan, P O'Connell, D Pusey, A McCullen, S Stewart try each; P Wallace 2 conv. Blues: D Wallace, S Easterby, M Mostyn try each; R O'Gara 2 conv.
ENGLAND v BARBARIANS: Two rugby greats are set to bring down the curtain on their careers at Twickenham tomorrow (Sky Sports 2, kick-off 3 p.m.).
Harlequins prop Jason Leonard and Springbok second row Mark Andrews will hang up their boots following their selection for the Barbarians against a scratch England side.
Leonard - who announced his retirement from all rugby earlier this month - is the most capped player of all time with 114 England appearances.
One of Clive Woodward's World Cup winners, the 35-year-old has proved one of of the sport's most durable figures - despite operating in the toughest of positions - and is a highly popular figure.
Andrews, another player to get his hands on the Webb Ellis Trophy, won 77 caps for South Africa during a glorious seven-year spell in the Test arena which saw him earn a reputation as one of the finest forwards of the modern era.
He finished his club career with Newcastle but was dogged by injury for two seasons.
Former All Black hooker Anton Oliver will skipper a Barbarians team which has amassed 688 caps and includes five former or existing international captains.
Ireland centre Brian O'Driscoll lines up in the midfield and is joined by his fellow Triple Crown winners Shane Horgan, David Humphreys and Malcolm O'Kelly.
Saracens' French international Thomas Castaignede has been pencilled in at full back but will undergo a late fitness with Wallaby Matt Burke on standby to take his place.
ENGLAND: Horak; Sackey, Noon, Sorrell, Garvey; Walder, Walshe; Worsley, Regan, Morris, Cornwell, Brown, Hyde, Hazell, Vyvyan (capt). Replacements: Fortey, Dawson, Buxton, Fox, Charlton, May, Scarbrough.
BARBARIANS: Castaignede (France), Horgan (Ireland), O'Driscoll (Ireland), Grey (Australia), Reihana (New Zealand), Humphreys (Ireland), Robinson (New Zealand), Leonard (England), Oliver (New Zealand), Visagie (South Africa), O'Kelly ( Ireland), Andrews (South Africa), Finegan (Australia), Vos (South Africa), Randell (New Zealand). Replacements: Sexton (Ulster), Feek (New Zealand), Magne ( France), Skinstad (South Africa), de Kock (South Africa), Traille (France), Burke (Australia).
ENGLISH PREMIERSHIP: Six days after their European Cup triumph over Toulouse, Wasps have the chance to complete the a second consecutive double when they take on Bath in the English Premiership final today (Sky Sports 2, kick-off 6 p.m.).
A year ago the London club thrashed Gloucester in the corresponding fixture after beating Bath in the European Challenge Cup and the momentum is with them again.
ANDERSON APPOINTED: Willie Anderson has been confirmed as Scotland's assistant coach. The former Leinster number two will link up with head coach Matt Williams on their tour to Australia.
