England vs Barbarians LIVE rugby: Result and reaction as brilliant Baa Baas thump dismal England
Eddie Jones’ men lose 52-21 to the Baa Baas ahead of July’s tour to Australia
England fell to a third successive defeat as the Barbarians overcame a first-half red card shown to Will Skelton to win 52-21 at Twickenham, their biggest victory in the fixture.
Skelton became the first player sent off in Barbarians history when his shoulder to the head of Patrick Schickerling ended the Exeter prop’s afternoon because of a failed head injury assessment.
Forced to play 43 minutes with only 14 men, Fabien Galthie’s men showed their class by continuing to run in tries with Damian Penaud crossing twice and Baptiste Couilloud, Louis Carbonel, Max Spring and Antoine Hastoy also on the scoresheet. Even the arrival of Danny Care early in the third quarter for his first international appearance in nearly four years failed to inspire disjointed England, who fired only in sporadic bursts.
Eddie Jones had picked the usual mix of youth and experience for the annual uncapped international, but even allowing for the experimental line-up it was a disappointing outing ahead of next month’s three-Test series against Australia. To rub salt into England’s wounds, their former lock George Kruis kicked three conversions including an outrageous backheel to head into retirement with a smile on his face.
Relive all the action from Twickenham below
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CONVERSION! England 11-26 Barbarians - 47 min
Love it! The Barbarians tradition of a player in their final game taking a conversion (see Botha, Bakkies for a previous example...) continues as George Kruis takes the opportunity!
Hastoy is lining it up but as it’s right in front of the post, former England lock Kruis nips in, pushes him to one side and slots it! Clever from Kruis to get it out of the way with a gimme, rather than leaving it until a tricky conversion/the end of the game.
TRY! England 11-24 Barbarians - 46 min
A fourth try for Baa Baas! It’s really poor execution from England.
The 22 drop out gives Barbarians ball and after a phase, Yoan Tanga takes crash ball and goes through a huge gap to the side of the ruck, outside the first England defender. Where were the defence?
Tanga bursts to within a metre of the line and Baptiste Couilloud dives over. Simply too easy for the Baa Baas.
England 11-19 Barbarians - 45 min
England win the lineout but Bougarit pinches the ball at the subsequent maul and breaks away! A kick through is dangerous but Marcus Smith gets back and just gets to the ball first and takes it dead.
England 11-19 Barbarians - 44 min
First scrum goes down and Baa Baas under pressure at the second. Yoan Tanga picks up at the back but Callum Chick straight round on him and it’s a turnover penalty. Good work by the England No 8.
And a roar goes round Twickenham because Danny Care enters the fray. On for Harry Randall for his first England appearance since 2018
England 11-19 Barbarians - 43 min
More inaccuracy at the lineout and Barbarians have a great attacking platform. A third lost lineout for England today...
Scrum Baa Baas for the lineout knock-on.
England 11-19 Barbarians - 41 min
Quick half-time update. Patrick Schickerling, who got hit in the head by Skelton in the red-card incident, has failed his HIA so won’t return. Will Collier back on at tighthead. A real shame for Schickerling.
Callum Chick knocks on in the early going and the Baa Baas find a good touch in the home 22. Defensive lineout for Eddie Jones’s troop
HALF-TIME! England 11-19 Barbarians - 40 min
One last chance for England to attack but the lineout is stolen and Couilloud kicks into touch. A muted Twickenham as the teams run off.
Truthfully, a pretty poor half from England but Will Skelton’s red card means that even though they trail, they should turn this round after the break
MISSED CONVERSION! England 11-19 Barbarians - 39 min
Hastoy can’t add the extras, so the lead stays at eight points. Gifting a try not what England wanted just as they went a man up.
TRY! England 11-19 Barbarians - 37 min
Oh dear oh dear England...
An absolute gift from the hosts as England lay the ball in their own 22, Mark Atkinson tries to float the ball out to Joe Marchant but it doesn’t get beyond Damian Penaud who is in the passing channel, catches the ball and has the run-in.
Atkinson won’t have done his touring hopes any good there, even if there was space outside. Poor execution.
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