England hold off second half fightback to beat Barbarians - Match Review

The match had a lot to live up to after the thrilling Guinness Premiership final on the same ground, the day before. In the end, although not quite as enthralling, the crowd at Twickenham were treated to an engaging 8-try match with more than a bit of tension in the final ten minutes.

England manager Martin Johnson fielded what basically amounted to a scratch England XV, filled with players who’d more or less never played together before. Combinations were brand new and it was never going to be perfect.

The home side opened in determined and attacking fashion, taking an early six-nil lead thank to two penalties from Sale Sharks fly half Charlie Hodgson on his return to international rugby.

James Haskell breaks through the Barbarians defence

Their first try came in the 14th  minute, when Stade Francais' James Haskell picked the ball up 50 yards out and embarked upon a mazy, rampaging run which took the flanker all the way to the line. Hodgson duly added the conversion.

England added two more tries before half time, sandwiched by one from the Baa-Baas. Playing his first international match in English colours, Bath centre Shontayne Hape darted neatly through a gap in the visiting defence on 24 minutes, with Hodgson again converting.

Former England star Paul Sackey pulled a try back for the Barbarians five minutes before the interval, with Jean-Baptiste Ellisalde adding the extra two points.

The home team hit straight back, re-extending their advantage as half time approached with arguably the best move of the match. Captain Nick Easter and hooker Steve Thompson both carried the ball forward under considerable pressure, freeing Northampton full back Ben Foden who scampered home in the left hand corner. Bath centre Barkley, now on as a replacement for the injured Hodgson, put a tricky conversion attempt just wide of the right hand post.

Martin Johnson’s side opened up a healthy 25-point gap six minutes into the second half, with Gloucester centre Mike Tindall breaking free from a crowd of bodies to score under the posts. Barkley converted.

Mike Tindall scores England's fourth try at the start of the second half

This fourth England score cued something of a fight back from the Barbarians as their undoubted quality and expansive rugby shone through in the final half an hour.

New Zealander David Smith crossed the line on 58 minutes, after a long spell of visiting pressure. Another replacement, Census Johnson, did the same six minutes later.

Ellisalde converted the second of these, as well as another Baa-Baas try four minutes from time. A flowing more created an overlap on the right, freeing Sackey for his second try of the match. England held their nerve, though and duly closed out the game with Barkley’s late penalty sealing victory.

A number of young players put in impressive showings, including Gloucester lock Dave Atwood and props Jon Golding (Newcastle Falcons) and Paul Doran-Jones of Gloucester. Wing Mark Cueto picked up Man of the Match honours thanks to a trademark combination of offensive forays and defensive heroics.

In the end Martin Johnson will be pleased with the win, and the confidence his squad of players will gain from it as they head Down Under. His side being outscored 19-10 in the second half will be cause for concern but in a match such as this, against the sort of quality world-class players the Baabaas had to choose from, England did well to finish the match on the right side of the scoreline.

England now head Down Under for two test matches against the Wallabies, plus two tour games against the Australian Barbarians and one against the New Zealand Maori.

Byron Kelleher gets the ball away in the second half

England: Foden; Cueto, Tindall, Hape, Strettle; Hodgson, Care; Golding, Thompson, Doran-Jones, Atwood, Palmer, Haskell, S Armitage, Easter.
Replacements: Tait for Hape (61), Simpson for Strettle (72), Barkley for Hodgson (36), Payne for Golding (45), Mears for Thompson (55), Ward-Smith for Atwood (51), Worsley for S Armitage (65).

Barbarians: Warwick; Sackey, Laulala, Fritz, Heymans; Elissalde, Kelleher; Roncero, August, White, Skeate, Kay, So'oialo, Williams, Rush.
Replacements: Mignoni for Elissalde (65), Johnston for Roncero (50), Owens for August (70), Thion for Skeate (42), D Smith for Kay (51).

The England players celebrate winning the Mastercard Trophy

Photos by Patrick Khachfe