Baa-baas to face weakened England
Tuesday, 27 March 2001The Barbarians will take on England in the final match of their spring tour at Twickenham on Sunday, May 27. Instead of taking on the Premiership champions - Leicester - in their usual end of season encounter, England will be the opponents just a day before they set off for their three-match tour of Canada and the USA.
It is likely to be a much-weakened England side, shorn of a huge British Lions contingent, and manager Clive Woodward feels it would provide useful preparation for his tourists. "I fully intend to play the strongest side available to me in what will be a tremendous opportunity for the new young England squad to show the strength and depth of talent in this country," said Woodward. "I am confident that the England team facing the Barbarians will produce an exciting display of fast and open rugby, relishing the opportunity afforded by the absence of players on the Lions tour." The game provides a central part of the RFU's festival of rugby over the bank holiday weekend, which also includes the Tetley's Bitter County Championship and the IRB world sevens.
Filed by Pat Nugent
