England XV v Barbarians preview

The Rugby Paper Team

11 years ago

Tags: Barbarians, England, Exeter Chiefs, France, Gloucester, Leicester, Leicester Tigers, London Wasps, Munster, New Zealand, South Africa, Ulster

Graham Kitchener will captain the England XV side to face the Barbarians on Sunday at Twickenham.
The Leicester Tigers lock will partner Kiwi-born Michael Paterson in the engine room while 21 year-old Exeter Chiefs fly half Henry Sladewill be vice-captain.
RFU Head of International Player Development Joe Lydon said: “This England squad is full of talent and will make for an entertaining match against a strong Barbarians side.
“We see this match as an important development opportunity for the players and many of them gained valuable experience working with the senior squad and coaches over the last week before they departed for New Zealand. We have seen 10 players involved in these Barbarians fixtures over the last two years who have gone on to get caps for England.
“The team are really looking forward to running out and playing in front of the home crowd at Twickenham which has had a fantastic atmosphere this season.”

Meanwhile, Juan Manuel Leguizamon will captain a Barbarians side drawn from nine different nations with more than 700 international caps between them.

Munster lock Donncha O’Callaghan – making his first appearance in the black and white jersey – is the most capped player with 98 while Clermont fly-half Brock James carries on the BaaBaas tradition of having one uncapped player in the squad.

Georgia No.8 Mamuka Gorgodze brings size to the pack while the backline containing five All Blacks will not lack pace.

“Juan Manuel Leguizamon commands respect as a player, he’s led the Pumas in Tests and he’ll do an excellent job throughout this week and at Twickenham on Sunday,” said Head Coach Dean Ryan.

“It’s a privilege to work with such an experienced and talented group, and in the short time we’ve been together they’ve shown how committed they are to delivering a first-class performance.

“The Barbarians is a special entity in the way it brings together outstanding players from all corners of the rugby world but ultimately we have to deliver on the pitch and that is our aim.”

England XV: Elliot Daly (London Wasps); Semesa Rokoduguni (Bath), Jonathan Joseph (Bath), Sam Hill (Exeter), Charlie Sharples (Gloucester); Henry Slade (Exeter), Joe Simpson (London Wasps); Ross Harrison (Sale), Rob Buchanan (Harlequins), Kyle Sinckler (Harlequins); Michael Paterson (Sale), Graham Kitchener (Leicester, Capt.); Jamie Gibson (Leicester), Luke Wallace (Harlequins), Dave Ewers (Exeter).
Replacements: Tommy Taylor (Sale), Fraser Balmain (Leicester), Will Collier (Harlequins), Charlie Matthews (Harlequins), James Gaskell (Sale), Dan Robson (Gloucester), Ollie Devoto (Bath), Rob Miller (Sale).

Barbarians: Juan Martin Hernandez (Racing Metro & Argentina); Joe Rokocoko (Bayonne & New Zealand), Rene Ranger (Montpellier & New Zealand), Benson Stanley (Clermont & New Zealand), Hosea Gear (Toulouse & New Zealand); Brock James (Clermont), Jimmy Cowan (Gloucester & New Zealand); Sona Taumalolo (Perpignan & Tonga), Ti‘i Paulo (Clermont & Samoa), Davit Kubriashvili (Stade Francais & Georgia); Donncha O’Callaghan (Munster & Ireland), Juandre Kruger (Racing Metro & South Africa); Juan Manuel Leguizamon (Lyon & Argentina, Capt.), Alexandre Lapandry (Clermont & France); Mamuka Gorgodze (Montpellier & Georgia).

Replacements: Andrew Hore (Maniototo & New Zealand), Julien Brugnaut (Racing Metro & France), Nahuel Lobo (Montpellier & Argentina), Joe Tekori (Toulouse & Samoa), Roger Wilson (Ulster & Ireland), Tomas Cubelli (Belgrano & Argentina), Francois Trinh-Duc (Montpellier & France), Anthony Tuitavake (Montpellier & New Zealand).