The Times' David Hands delivers his verdict on the inexperienced England side that will face the Barbarians.
"Any England team playing the Barbarians at this time of year is subject to all sorts of provisos - who can be picked or, more particularly, who cannot. No simple line can be drawn through Sunday’s starting XV towards the team that will meet Australia in Perth on June 12, save the possibility that, of the newcomers, Shontayne Hape will be in both of them.
"The England management are determined to see what Hape can make of the inside-centre berth, even though he has shifted sideways for Bath since the return to fitness of Olly Barkley. At times, Bath have taken the field without him but since illness ruled him out of the first match of the RBS Six Nations Championship, against Wales in February, Hape has been a work in progress.
"The former New Zealand rugby league player can, on his day, demonstrate both strength and skill but the player who has ended the domestic season in sparkling form in the 12 jersey has been Barkley who has, as it happens, not played for England since the tour to New Zealand on 2008. The same can be said of two more of Sunday’s backs, David Strettle and Charlie Hodgson, who appeared to have no international future after the public criticism of the defence during the 2008 tour."
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