Barbarians savage England in searing display
Former England stars Iain Balshaw and Josh Lewsey celebrate the Barbarians' victory at Twickenham
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Saturday, 30, May 2009 09:07
An under-par England left their comeback too late as the Barbarians ran in five tries to win 33-26 in a brilliant performance writes inthenews.co.uk's Lewis Bazley at Twickenham.
Iain Balshaw (two), Chris Jack, Rocky Elsom and Gordon D'Arcy scored for the visitors, with a hesitant England evidently affected by the loss of several regulars to the British and Irish Lions.
Jordan Turner-Hall, Tom May and Matt Banahan scored debut tries but the afternoon belonged to the attacking flair of the Barbarians, with the retiring Martin Corry and Josh Lewsey making their final appearances at Twickenham.
The game got off to an uneven start, with the only action of note coming when Delon Armitage almost took Serge Betsen's head off with a fly kick after the Frenchman had gathered in the loose.
But after thirteen minutes, Balshaw gave the Barbarians the lead after sprinting home from the 22 from Glen Jackson's kick through, with full-back Ben Blair converting.
The home side nearly levelled the scores just three minutes later as the impressive Care zipped through the Baa-Baas' backline only to be hauled into touch just a metre from the line.
Armitage and Goode both went close as England began to force their way into the game but it was the Barbarians who crossed the whitewash again to extend their lead.
Chris Jack was the unlikely finisher after the English defence had been scattered thanks to a scintillating Corry break, with Blair's conversion putting the Baa-Baas 14 points clear.
Ben Foden, making his first start, put England's first points on the board on the half hour, diving over in the corner after Care spread the move wide from a ruck.
But Goode's kick was as disappointing as his hooked penalty miss in the opening minutes and the Barbarians held a 14-5 lead as the first half ended.
Tom May replaced Jamie Noon at half-time to make his England debut but the change couldn't prevent the Barbarians from claiming the first score of the second half.
Number eight Rocky Elsom sidestepped Foden to touch down after Blair found a gap, though the Cardiff back was unable to convert the try.
Balshaw scored his second try of the afternoon minutes later, capping another fine Baa-Baas move, and England would have found themselves some 25 points adrift but for Armitage shoving Doug Howlett into touch as the Kiwi neared the line.
The Barbarians onslaught continued after Josh Lewsey, making an emotional final appearance on British soil, unselfishly offloaded to Gordon D'Arcy who crossed for the visitors' fifth try.
England continued to struggle in the west London heat, though Turner-Hall claimed a debut try after Goode cleverly chipped the Baa-Baas defence.
Steve Thompson came on with 20 minutes remaining but while the World Cup winner had cause for celebration as he made his first England appearance in three years, Martin Johnson's men looked likely to fall to their first home defeat of the year.
A late England fight-back saw May latch onto a wildly bouncing kick to notch his first try for England before the gigantic Banahan set up an intriguing final five minutes having plucked the ball from the hands of Paul Tito to touch down.
Though Goode's successful conversion meant England finished the match only seven points behind the Baa-Baas, Johnson will hope for a far more polished performance in the first Test against Argentina next weekend.