England 40 Barbarians 12: Flying duo Wade and Yarde turn up the pressure on Ashton

By Rob Wildman

PUBLISHED: 08:59 EST, 26 May 2013 | UPDATED: 13:12 EST, 26 May 2013


If Chris Ashton and Co needed a reminder about England's strength in depth then it took Stuart Lancaster's international hopefuls just 39 seconds at Twickenham to deliver the message.

The opposition may have been a slow-starting Barbarian team, but the likes of Mike Tindall, James Hook and Imanol Harinordoquy did collectively possess over 800 international caps to England's starting total of 110.

No wonder the England head coach had a 'job well done' smile after a win by five tries to two in this annual non-cap international.

Perfect start: Freddie Burns crosses for England inside a minute

Perfect start: Freddie Burns crosses for England inside a minute

Perfect start: Freddie Burns crosses for England inside a minute

The first score coming in the opening minute from fly half Freddie Burns and three other pretenders in Marland Yarde, Christian Wade and Kyle Eastmond also scored while the fifth came from Billy Twelvetrees, a veteran of four caps in comparison.

Lancaster described the talent on view as potentially 'exceptional' and hopes the three-match tour of South America, starting next week, will be a springboard to freshen up a squad who have finished runners up in successive Six Nations.

England will take on Argentina shorn of their Lions and a group of rested senior players in Ashton, Toby Flood and Danny Care.

No ordinary Joe: Launchbury takes on the BaaBaas defence

No ordinary Joe: Launchbury takes on the Baa-Baas defence

Sticking the boot in: Burns was in fine kicking form

Sticking the boot in: Burns was in fine kicking form

Ashton is most under pressure due to the relentless improvement of Wade, the Wasps wing who scored in this match last season, and Yarde from London Irish.

On this form, both are pushing for a full cap next month despite the presence in the squad of the experienced David Strettle and Mike Brown, the full-back-turned wing who played in the Six Nations.

Brown had another assured match, this time in his preferred position of full-back. But the biggest plaudits went first to Yarde, whose touchline dash made the try for Burns in the first minute, followed by his own try just after half-time when he burst clear of a ragged Barbarian defence.

Breakaway: Marland Yarde scored England's second try

Breakaway: Marland Yarde scored England's second try

Pulling up trees: Billy Twelvetrees tries to shake off the attention of Marco Wentzel

Pulling up trees: Billy Twelvetrees tries to shake off the attention of Marco Wentzel

Try time: Kyle Eastmond scored England's third
Try time: Kyle Eastmond scored England's third

Try time: Kyle Eastmond scored England's third

England played the best rugby in the first quarter of the second half which brought two other tries besides Yarde's dash.

Eastmond, Bath's rugby league recruit from Wigan, used his first decent touch to score England's third try, having taken over from Brown.

Wade then touched down in the 62nd minute. When Twelvetrees scored England's fifth try in the 67 minutes the Barbarians, who travelled last night to Hong Kong for next Saturday's match against the Lions, were 40-0 down.

Wading in: Wasps wing Christian Wade got in on the act

Wading in: Wasps wing Christian Wade got in on the act

Wading in: Wasps wing Christian Wade got in on the act

But they did eventually wake up and scored two tries in the last 10 minutes through Saracens hooker Schalk Brits and Elliot Daly,  the versatile back  from Wasps.

Daly's omission from the England squad has surprised many and Lancaster admitted he was next in line, saying: 'He's definitely a player in the future for England.'

The only down-side was a  horror conversion by Eastmond. He had taken over from Burns, who had a slight hamstring strain, and managed to miss improving Twelvetrees' try from in front of the sticks.

High five: Twelvetrees crosses to score England's last try

High five: Twelvetrees crosses to score England's last try

 

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The barbarians being an invitational side allow the players to wear the socks from their club.

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dave 11, unfortunatley your query shows how much you know about rugby, they wear their club colours socks.... something every welshman knows by the age of four, which is why red dragon bemoans the lack of proper BRITISH rugby coverage.... its not just an english paper, they sell it in wales too see butt? sarcasm aside, reading welsh papers is akin to reading the cheltenham gazette, bias towards cheltenham, we want to hear about how frustated you english are that you cant create a team that comes close to ours, makes us feel better dunt it? :-P

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Baa Baas wear their club socks - hence Andrea Lo Cicero (Il Barone) was wearing the blue and white of Lazio.

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Baa baas wear their home nations socks

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@red dragon, English newspaper mate. Last I checked 2+2 is still makes 4 so go figure. Also why are the Barbarians all wearing different socks? I have never noticed that before.

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Surely Johnny Two Livers, you mean English rugby, that's all you see on this annoying site is English rugby .You would think reading this site that only England play rugby in this country. Am I wrong? I do not think so.

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Tindall enjoy the night clubs in Hong Kong lions you've nothing to worry about what a pathetic game! A more important note : Stuart Barnes please can you learn to keep your mouth shut!

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That's better, lets see more Rugby on here :0)

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