England v Barbarians, 26 May

First topic message reminder :

England v Barbarians
26 May 2013
Kick off: 13:00 local
Twickenham Stadium

Match officials to be announced.

Might get a thread started about this now that the full Ba-bas squad has been announced.

1. Teams:
Barbarians:
Elliot Daly
Takudzwa Ngwenya
Casey Laulala
Mike Tindall (captain)
Timoci Nagusa
James Hook
Dwayne Peel
Andrea Lo Cicero
Matthew Rees
James Johnston
Jim Hamilton
Marco Wentzel
Alessandro Zanni
Jonathan Poff
Imanol Harinordoquy

Replacements:
Schalk Brits
Duncan Jones
Paul James
Dean Mumm
Sam Jones
Dimitri Yachvili
Nick Evans
Rowan Varty

England
15. Mike Brown (Harlequins)
14. Christian Wade (Wasps)
13. Jonathan Joseph (London Irish)
12. Billy Twelvetrees (Gloucester Rugby)
11. Marland Yarde (London Irish)
10. Freddie Burns (Gloucester Rugby)
9. Richard Wigglesworth (Saracens)
1. Alex Corbisiero (London Irish)
2. Rob Webber (Bath Rugby, captain)
3. David Wilson (Bath Rugby)
4. Joe Launchbury (London Wasps)
5. Dave Attwood (Bath Rugby)
6. Tom Johnson (Exeter Chiefs)
7. Matt Kvesic (Worcester Warriors)
8. Ben Morgan (Gloucester Rugby)

Replacements
16. David Paice (London Irish)
17. Joe Marler (Harlequins)
18. Henry Thomas (Sale Sharks)
19. Kearnan Myall (Unattached)
20. Billy Vunipola (London Wasps)
21. Haydn Thomas (Exeter Chiefs)
22. Kyle Eastmond (Bath Rugby)
23. Jonny May (Gloucester Rugby)

2. England squad

Forwards

Dave Attwood (Bath Rugby), Rob Buchanan (Harlequins), Alex Corbisiero (London Irish), Tom Johnson (Exeter Chiefs), Matt Kvesic (Worcester Warriors), Joe Launchbury (London Wasps), Joe Marler (Harlequins), Ben Morgan (Gloucester Rugby), Kearnan Myall (Sale Sharks), David Paice (London Irish), Henry Thomas (Sale Sharks), Billy Vunipola (London Wasps), Rob Webber (Bath Rugby), David Wilson (Bath Rugby).

Backs

Mike Brown (Harlequins), Freddie Burns (Gloucester Rugby), Kyle Eastmond (Bath Rugby), Jonathan Joseph (London Irish), Jonny May (Gloucester Rugby), David Strettle (Saracens), Haydn Thomas (Exeter Chiefs), Billy Twelvetrees (Gloucester Rugby), Christian Wade (London Wasps), Richard Wigglesworth (Saracens), Marland Yarde (London Irish).

3. Barbarians squad

Backs

Jared Payne (Ulster), Rowan Varty (DeA Tigers & Hong Kong), Takudzwa Ngwenya (Biarritz Olympique & USA), Timoci Nagusa (Montpellier & Fiji), Joe Rokocoko (Bayonne & New Zealand), Elliot Daly (London Wasps), James Hook (Perpignan & Wales), Nick Evans (Harlequins & New Zealand), Kahn Fotuali'i (Ospreys & Samoa), Dwayne Peel (Sale Sharks & Wales), Dimitri Yachvili (Biarritz Olympique & France).

Forwards

Duncan Jones (Ospreys & Wales), BJ Botha (Munster & South Africa), Paul James (Bath Rugby & Wales), Martin Castrogiovanni (Leicester & Italy), Andrea Lo Cicero (Racing Metro 92 & Italy), Matthew Rees (Scarlets & Wales), Leonardo Ghiraldini (Benetton Treviso & Italy), Schalk Brits (Saracens & South Africa), Marco Wentzel (London Wasps & South Africa), Jim Hamilton (Gloucester Rugby & Scotland), Dean Mumm (Exeter Chiefs & Australia), Samu Manoa (Northampton & USA), Francois Louw (Bath Rugby & South Africa), Sam Jones (London Wasps), Alessandro Zanni (Benetton Treviso & Italy), Sergio Parisse (Stade Francais & Italy), Imanol Harinordoquy (Biarritz Olympique & France).

Great news (for me at least)

Supersport will be broadcasting the match.

I'm pretty sure that Haskell is being rested, the guy has played non-stop rugby for about 2 years now. I think he's a solid player and offers great cover to a high level, but for me he never seemed to make that last step to become as good as we all thought.

Oddly though he was brilliant in the Super 15 when he was there, if he was a New Zealander and we'd only watched him in that league us in the NH would have raved about him. Shame he could never replicate that for us.

belovedfrosties wrote:I'm pretty sure that Haskell is being rested, the guy has played non-stop rugby for about 2 years now. I think he's a solid player and offers great cover to a high level, but for me he never seemed to make that last step to become as good as we all thought.

Oddly though he was brilliant in the Super 15 when he was there, if he was a New Zealander and we'd only watched him in that league us in the NH would have raved about him. Shame he could never replicate that for us.

I actually felt that when's hes played he's been consistently one of out best players, with an obviously more powerful presence than most of our other forwards. Not a complete player at all, still runs too upright and his offloading isn't great - but when it comes to matching teams physically he's always there. Before the 2011 WC he had a cracking 6Ns, but after MJ inexplicably dropped him he seemed to lose confidence. Shame. I still think he has a lot to offer at 6 for England - Wood and Croft still feel like luxury, lightweight players to me. Great if we had a massive tight 5, but in the absence of that, not ideal.

England have a strong team

They should be very disappointed if they don't win today

I will be disappointed if we don't win, I will be even more disappointed if we don't score a few tries.

Jeez Hook has got 70 caps?!? That makes me feel old, he hasn't been around that long has he?

Cumbrian wrote:Jeez Hook has got 70 caps?!? That makes me feel old, he hasn't been around that long has he?

First cap was 2006

I'm more surprised that he has had 48 starts

Not a bad start...!

This could be really bad for the Barbarians...really bad

10pts in 4 minutes

The Baabaas have not named a great team, a heavy defeat will really make people question their relevance.

Baabaas turned over 3 times already

make that 4

I have to agree with Barnes there. Pretty lazy attempt by Nagusa to catch that ball.

Not exactly a sympathetic pass... they have to be the most annoying commentary team out there.

AAAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRRRRRRGGGGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!

Thought this started at 2:30

Im stuck at work, no bbc coverage anywhere

need you guys to give running commentary

That blonde was tidy by the looks.

Pretty funny how Wales get criticised for awarding caps, yet England are doing everything but cap for it (kicking goals etc).

13 - 0

Baabaas are very poor - most of the team don't look interested and they can barely keep the ball for 10 seconds

Notch wrote:Not exactly a sympathetic pass... they have to be the most annoying commentary team out there.

Yeah they are. Would be nice if they aren't on Lions duty. I think he could've made more of an effort with it though the pass wasn't great.

But are they giving caps? Always thought it was ridiculous to give caps for a game against a club team. Play to win sure, but its not a test match.

Notch wrote:But are they giving caps? Always thought it was ridiculous to give caps for a game against a club team. Play to win sure, but its not a test match.

If you're not going to cap and treat it as a test match, then there's no harm in kicking to the corner or taking a scrum. I don't agree with capping for it, but why not give their scrum a go?

Baabaas finally have some phases and make some ground and Zanni of all people throws the ball into English hands

I agree.

Meanwhile, Barnes continues to fellate Ngwenya, the player he has singled out for man of the match before the game.

No, England never award caps for games against the Barbarians, always try and treat it as a proper game too.

who scored for england?

Knackeredknees wrote:who scored for england?

Burns

overall how are they playing so far?

The baabaas defence is just awful, not interested

Barbarians traditions dictate there's much 'team bonding' involved pre and post game bit for the tradition to continue they need to be competitive too...

Why kick! Idiotic

Notch wrote:Barbarians traditions dictate there's much 'team bonding' involved pre and post game bit for the tradition to continue they need to be competitive too...

Yep, this is a long way from the team that beat New Zealand a few years ago

Zanni has knocked the ball on about 4 times so far

Not a great game so far this one.

Wigglesworth's delivery is so slow and he just keeps kicking it away. It is getting really frustrating.

How many times have the Baabaas been pushed into touch so far?

Laulaula vs England at the moment

16 turnovers conceeded by the Barbarians

If they play like this next week, the Lions will put 50+ points on them, easily.

England 16-0 at half time. so far so good.

Almost unwatchable.The BaaBaas existence is at severe threat.Players look to be not interested in the main.
I would not pay to watch this stuff.

Im sure the Barbarians will play a lot better next week. They should be well up for beating the Lions.

I'd like to see Kyle Eastmond on at 13 for JJ this half, and also Billy V for TJ, just to give us some more gainline momentum.

Good try from Yarde, poor defending mind.

I think Yarde has a big international future. has been excellent for us this season.

PROP RUN! WOOOOOOOOSH!

Did someone tell Davey Wilson there was a pie up the field going free?!?!

wales606 wrote:16 turnovers conceeded by the Barbarians

If they play like this next week, the Lions will put 50+ points on them, easily.

Next week's Baabaa team will be a better one, but yes it still looks like it could be one-sided

ChequeredJersey wrote:

wales606 wrote:16 turnovers conceeded by the Barbarians

If they play like this next week, the Lions will put 50+ points on them, easily.

Next week's Baabaa team will be a better one, but yes it still looks like it could be one-sided

If they can't score a point against a new inexperienced England team then I don't think an extra week is going to help them score against a heavily experienced welsh based Lions defence.

wales606 wrote:

ChequeredJersey wrote:

wales606 wrote:16 turnovers conceeded by the Barbarians

If they play like this next week, the Lions will put 50+ points on them, easily.

Next week's Baabaa team will be a better one, but yes it still looks like it could be one-sided

If they can't score a point against a new inexperienced England team then I don't think an extra week is going to help them score against a heavily experienced welsh based Lions defence.

I think the team they put out will be better, I'm not sure the Baabaas have their best player in many positions at all this match, but I agree they will still struggle

ChequeredJersey wrote:

wales606 wrote:

ChequeredJersey wrote:

wales606 wrote:16 turnovers conceeded by the Barbarians

If they play like this next week, the Lions will put 50+ points on them, easily.

Next week's Baabaa team will be a better one, but yes it still looks like it could be one-sided

If they can't score a point against a new inexperienced England team then I don't think an extra week is going to help them score against a heavily experienced welsh based Lions defence.

I think the team they put out will be better, I'm not sure the Baabaas have their best player in many positions at all this match, but I agree they will still struggle

If they change the team too much then they will be just as rusty as they have been in this game - they will only improve by playing together

This could yet be a 50+ pointer

If the baabaas fail to score a try, then there will be big problems

wales606 wrote:

ChequeredJersey wrote:

wales606 wrote:

ChequeredJersey wrote:

wales606 wrote:16 turnovers conceeded by the Barbarians

If they play like this next week, the Lions will put 50+ points on them, easily.

Next week's Baabaa team will be a better one, but yes it still looks like it could be one-sided

If they can't score a point against a new inexperienced England team then I don't think an extra week is going to help them score against a heavily experienced welsh based Lions defence.

I think the team they put out will be better, I'm not sure the Baabaas have their best player in many positions at all this match, but I agree they will still struggle

If they change the team too much then they will be just as rusty as they have been in this game - they will only improve by playing together

In which case what is the point in having Fotuali'i, Evans, Parisse, Louw, Payne, Rockocoko, Castro, Brits, Ghiraldini or Manoa in the squad (for a 2 game "tour" )? All of whom would be in my starting Baabaa 15 (well, only one of Brits and Ghiraldhini)