By Duncan Wood
May 22 2002

Phil Christophers will make his first start for England and Agustin Pichot will take his regular Barbarians role. Both will be hoping to return to headquarters on club duty if things go well for Bristol.

It's a great honour to be selected for the Barbarians and Agustin Pichot has been fortunate enough to be selected on several occasions during the past few seasons.

In fact, it is rumoured that it is while he was on BaaBaas duty that former Bristol Director of Rugby, Bob Dwyer, sold him the idea of coming to the West Country!

However, one thing that Bristol supporters will be desperate to avoid is a repetition of last season when he damaged a hamstring playing for the Barbarians at the Millenium Stadium. On that occasion, against South Africa, he scored a superb try but also tweaked his hamstring and missed several games as a result.

Let's hope that he has a great game and returns to Bristol fit and healthy and ready to take on Northampton.

Congratulations also to Phil Christophers who will make his first start for England in the same game. He will play on the left wing in an England lineup that has a fairly unfamiliar look to it.

It's a great chance to stake a claim for a place on the England tour to Argentina and just reward for a sensational first full season in the Zurich Premiership. Let's also hope that he does himself justice and comes through the game unscathed.

Finally, spare a thought for Andrew Sheridan who was an original selection for the England squad but had to pull out with a knee injury which will also probably rule him out of the Argentina tour.