England 26 Barbarians 33: THIS MATCH felt like a changing of the guard. Martin Johnson gave six players their first international start against the Barbarians, fielding some of the most promising talent in the Guinness Premiership but ended the day losing both the match and one of his options for England's back-to-back Tests against Argentina over the next two weeks.
David Strettle was ruled out of the tour with an abdominal illness. The Barbarians, meanwhile, had a valedictory feel, including four members of England’s 2003 World Cup-winning squad.
For two of those, Josh Lewsey and Martin Corry, this was their final professional appearance before hanging up their boots. Another, Iain Balshaw, is leaving England this summer to join Biarritz in France’s Top 14 while the last of them, Mike Catt, was doubling up as assistant coach and spent most of the match talking tactics into his microphone headset at pitch-side. All four excelled in their different ways: Lewsey created two tries, Balshaw scored two, Corry was typically indefatigable and Catt pulled the strings from the sidelines. The grins they all wore at the final whistle made for a sharp contrast with the frown creasing the brow of their old team-mate Johnson.
For Johnson the result was a reminder of the rebuilding work he faces. His callow side were shredded by the veterans and found themselves 33-5 down after 50 minutes, having lost Jamie Noon to a hamstring injury.
“At times our basic skills weren’t good enough,” said Johnson afterwards. “We gave away two weak tries. It’s frustrating. The standard of performance you expect is higher than that and they know that as well. It’s pretty disappointing.
“We all have to start somewhere and some of the guys started their international careers here today. Maybe they’ll continue next week or at some point in the near future . . .”
Some of England’s colts were matched against men they had idolised on TV as teenagers. Matt Banahan, who has been called up as Strettle’s replacement for the tour squad, for one was more than a little starstruck. “To play opposite people of such calibre as Doug Howlett was incredible,” he gasped. “I can’t really explain just how it feels to come off the field having faced players like that.”
Banahan even outstretched Howlett to score England’s third try of the final quarter, a late rally which provided sorely needed consolation. All four of England’s tries were scored by debutants.
“England are clearly building something,” remarked Lewsey with the forgivable condescension of a victor. “They’ve got lots of good young players, so there’s plenty for them to get excited about.” Against Argentina the learning curve will be steeper.
Guardian service
ENGLAND: Armitage; Foden, Noon (May, 40), Turner-Hall, Banahan; Goode, Care (Hodgson, 50); Payne (Wood, 53), Hartley (Thompson, 60), Wilson, Borthwick (capt), Deacon (Haskell, 66), Robshaw, Moody (S Armitage, 53), Easter. Tries: Foden, Turner-Hall, May, Banahan. Cons: Goode 3.
BARBARIANS: Blair; Howlett, Lewsey (Catt, 64), D'Arcy, Balshaw (Nasiganiyavi, 49); Jackson, Marshall (Whitaker, 71); Dermody (Somerville, 66), Brits (Bruno, 57), Somerville (Botha, 49), Corry (capt), Jack (Tito, 64), Collins, Betsen (Waugh, 57), Elsom. Sin-bin: Waugh, 67. Tries: Balshaw 2, Jack, Elsom, D'Arcy. ConsBlair 4.
Referee: R Poite(France).
