England edge past Baa-baas
A dire display of rugby saw England splutter to a 17-14 win over an even more lacklustre Barbarian outfit at Twickenham.
By Simon Dilger
Last Updated: 01/06/08 7:54pm
A dire display of rugby saw England splutter to a 17-14 win over an even more lacklustre Barbarian outfit at Twickenham on Sunday.
What should have been a ripping send-off for Martin Johnson's men as they completed their preparations for New Zealand will have raised more questions than it answered as the hosts were run perilously close by a scratch side at headquarters.
Despite some tremendous work in the line out, England were too loose at the breakdown and failed to maintain a consistent rhythm against a Barbarian side that showed little of their famous flair until the final minute.
Andy Gomersall missed the opportunity to put the Baa-baas in front after three minutes, drifting a simple 37 metre penalty attempt just wide from almost in front of the posts.
But three minutes later Toby flood was on target after some brilliant attacking play from England's backs put him within firing distance.
Blistering
A brilliantly judged pass from Charlie Hodgson, deep inside his own half found Mathew Tait who, with a blistering run, made it to within 10 metres of the Barbarian line before being brought down by Jerry Collins.
Seconds later, when the Baa-baas were penalised for putting their hands in, Flood stepped up to claim the three points.
On 13 minutes, after a period of pressure on the line, the weight and power of England's forwards proved too much for the Barbarians and skipper Nick Easter drove over for the first try of the match.
Toby Flood, kicking from a tight angle, added the extras to give England a 10 point lead.
Then, when Maama Molitika was sin binned on the half hour mark England sought to press home their advantage.
But, despite putting the Barbarian defence under intense pressure, they were unable to capitalise, losing the desperately unlucky Hodgson in the process after a clash of heads with Collins.
Breakaway
The second half began in similar fashion and it was not until the 50th minute that the game showed signs of coming to life - albeit briefly.
A shocking blind pass from Chris Jones, looking for Flood, was intercepted by Seilala Mapusua and the Samoan duly ran in for a breakaway score beneath the posts.
Gomersal this time was on target to add to the Barbarians' opening points and take the score to 10-7.
On the hour Mike Brown failed to extend England's lead to six points with a penalty attempt, leaving them still dangerously within reach of the Baa-baas.
Brown, standing in for Flood who had also been forced from the pitch for treatment following a clash of heads, sent his 42 metre effort wide.
Three minutes later though and it was Tait with a great opportunistic score that gave England the buffer they needed.
Latching onto a pass from the base of the scrum, Tait decided to go it alone. The Newcastle Falcon slipped through the Barbarian defence with a neat sidestep around Mapusua to run in from short range and touch down beneath the posts
Brown added the extras to give England a rather flattering-looking 17-7 lead.
Finally, barely a minute from the final whistle, the Barabarians showed the flair for which they are renowned.
England's defence were left grasping nothing but thin air as the Baa-baas worked a text book move to put Gareth Thomas in under the sticks and allow Glen Jackson of Saracens to add the extras.
With the final score at 17-14, the prospect of this side taking on the All Blacks in a fortnight is a worrying one and sure to give Martin Johnson a headache of no small proportions.
