England XV take on Barbarians coached by Dean Ryan at Twickenham

Donncha O’Callaghan: Is the most capped player in the Barbarians side as he makes his first invitational appearacne

Henry Slade: Exeter Chiefs upcoming star fly-half will be vice-captain of the England XV

A host of uncapped players have the opportunity to force their way into Stuart Lancaster’s plans on Sunday as an England XV faces the Barbarians at Twickenham.

Leicester Tigers lock Graham Kitchener will lead England in the non-cap fixture against an invitational Barbarians side featuring no less than five All Black internationals in the run-on side.

Worcester Warriors director of rugby Dean Ryan is presiding over the Barbarians and has assembled a squad boasting more than 700 international caps, with a total of nine nations represented.

England meanwhile, will be coached by Joe Lydon and Jon Callard, with head coach Lancaster already in New Zealand as the senior squad prepare for their three-Test series starting on June 7.

The England starting line-up has just three fully-capped internationals and eight England Saxons.

Bath’s six-cap centre Jonathan Joseph and Gloucester’s four-cap wing Charlie Sharples are England’s most experienced operators, with scrum-half Joe Simpson also boasting one cap.

Simpson’s axis partner Henry Slade of Exeter Chiefs is yet to earn a senior cap, but will act vice-captain to Kitchener at fly-half.

Currently serving Army soldier and Bath wing Semesa Rokoduguni will add Fijian flair to England’s ranks.

Talent

The front row of Ross Harrison, Rob Buchanan and Kyle Sinkler all get their first taste of international rugby, as does Michael Paterson at lock after an impressive season with Sale.

While the majority of England’s senior squad gear up for the first Test in Auckland, Lancaster has not ruled out drafting in any players who impress on Sunday.

“This England squad is full of talent and will make for an entertaining match against a strong Barbarians side with more than 700 caps between them,” said Lydon, the RFU’s head of international player development.

“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.”

Juan Manuel Leguizamon, the Argentina flanker, will captain the Barbarians on Sunday in a side oozing international quality.

“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 coach 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.”

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 Barbarians tradition of having one uncapped player in the squad.

England XV: 15 Daly (Wasps); 14 Rokoduguni (Bath), 13 Joseph (Bath), 12 Hill (Exeter), 11 Sharples (Gloucester); 10 Slade (Exeter), 9 Simpson (London Wasps); 1 Harrison (Sale), 2 Buchanan (Harlequins), 3 Sinckler (Harlequins); 4 Paterson (Sale), 5 Kitchener (Leicester, capt); 6 Gibson (Leicester), 7 Wallace (Harlequins), 8 Ewers (Exeter)

Replacements: 16 Taylor (Sale), 17 Balmain (Leicester), 18 Collier (Harlequins), 19 Matthews (Harlequins), 20 Gaskell (Sale), 21 Robson (Gloucester), 22 Devoto (Bath), 23 Miller (Sale)

Barbarians: 15 Hernandez (Argentina); 14 Rokocoko (New Zealand), 13 Ranger (New Zealand), 12 Stanley (New Zealand), 11 Gear (New Zealand); 10 James (Clermont), 9 Cowan (New Zealand); 1 Taumalolo (Tonga), 2 Paulo (Samoa), 3 Kubriashvili (Georgia); 4 O’Callaghan (Ireland), 5 Kruger (South Africa); 6 Leguizamon (Argentina, capt), 7 Lapandry (France); 8 Gorgodze (Georgia)

Replacements: Hore (New Zealand), Brugnaut (France), Lobo (Argentina), Tekori (Samoa), Wilson (Ireland), Cubelli (Argentina), Trinh-Duc (France), Tuitavake (New Zealand)

Watch England take on the Barbarians live from 2:30pm on Sky Sports 1HD

Article source: http://www.irishtimes.com/sport/rugby/international/robbie-henshaw-to-miss-ireland-s-tour-of-argentina-1.1813650

England XV take on Barbarians coached by Dean Ryan at Twickenham