“It’s an intoxicating mix of youth and experience and it's always exciting because you never know what’s going to happen under the pressure.”
Needless to say Eddie Jones is looking forward to seeing what this England side can do on Sunday afternoon against the Barbarians. Scorching temperatures have accompanied their preparations so far this week at Pennyhill Park in Bagshot and the heat is due to remain in place throughout the weekend. It may be a touch warm however that far eclipses the alternative of rainy rugby. This England squad, and the Barbarbians, deserve a fast and dry track to show what they're made of and that's exactly what they are going to get.
When Eddie Jones announced his ‘new’ squad in April it’s fair to say that it raised a few eyebrows with some thinking that he has taken his focus on youth a little too far. Yet it’s the decision that the Australian has run with and it’s up to those selected to show that they can cut it at the highest level.
The unknown is what makes this weekend's game and the two matches in Argentina so exciting. As the quote from England's head coach highlighted at the top of this article, none of us - even the man himself - knows which players will embrace the Test arena and which will find it too much too soon.
Needless to say this opening match is not an easy introduction! Don’t be fooled by the fact that the Barbarians came together at the start of the week and will have had a good couple of bonding sessions during the week. They will mean business and with the experience in their group are more than capable of putting England to the sword if they're in the mood to do so. The question here is can England’s young guns back themselves fully and counter those in front of them regardless of their own lack of personal experience at Test level. Will the likes of Jack Singleton, Nick Isiekwe, Sam Underhill and other look at their opponents and playing without fear or will they cower?
Needless to say this opening match is not an easy introduction! Don’t be fooled by the fact that the Barbarians came together at the start of the week and will have had a good couple of bonding sessions during the week. They will mean business and with the experience in their group are more than capable of putting England to the sword if they're in the mood to do so. The question here is can England’s young guns back themselves fully and counter those in front of them regardless of their own lack of personal experience at Test level. Will the likes of Jack Singleton, Nick Isiekwe, Sam Underhill and other look at their opponents and playing without fear or will they cower?
The other unknown element when it comes to a Barbarians Test match is just how the game itself will unfold. In Eddie Jones’ words matches against the Barbarians can go one of two ways either ‘the ball flies from side-to-side’ or they are a ‘fair dinkum Test matches’. Not only do the younger members of this England squad have to shoulder the occasion of their first outing at Twickenham Stadium but they have to be ready to adapt on the hoof and implement the appropriate game-plan.
For Sunday's outing Eddie Jones has decided to bring in co-captains and I believe that this is another astute move from the Australian. Both Chris Robshaw and George Ford will be able to speak freely with the referee and as a duo their relationship together during the game will be key. Indeed their relationship with each other and with this new squad will have been key at Pennyhill Park this week. It has been said multiple times before that they both set the standards for others to follow and off the back of leading a young group this week they each will enhance their already strong leadership abilities. One of Eddie Jones' proiorities in the road towards 2019 it to boost the squad's leadership and weeks like this, and tours like the one that is ahead, will do just that.
As a mark of respect for those that lost their lives in Manchester earlier in the week and to all those affected by the tragic events the squad will wear black armbands on Sunday and there will be one minute of silence ahead of kick-off. We are all still shocked and deeply saddened by what happened this week and safety is paramount so do arrive a little earlier than you would normally for security purposes. The same marks of respect and enhanced security measures will also be in place for the Aviva Premiership final the day before.
There’s no questioning the fact that this England squad has a significant task on their hands with the Barbarians and then a tour to Argentina. I can confidently say that the Barbarians’ squad with the likes of Thierry Dusautoir, Steffon Armitage, Schalk Brits, Adam Ashley-Cooper know exactly what they are doing and you'd have to say head into this game as the likely victors.
What England fans need to see is a squad that approaches the game with absolutely no fear and just flies. We often hear that the best quality of young and talented players if that they just throw themselves at what’s in front of them and think after. On Sunday afternoon there’s no room for overthinking instead it will be about embracing the moment and reaching levels that perhaps individuals didn’t even know that they had in them yet.
As you can tell I’m really looking forward to seeing what will be put out on the park on Sunday afternoon from both the Barbarians and England. The Met Office is forecasting a cool 24 degrees so if you're heading to Twickenham put on a spot of sun cream before you leave and get ready to enjoy some scintillating rugby in the South West London sunshine.
What England fans need to see is a squad that approaches the game with absolutely no fear and just flies. We often hear that the best quality of young and talented players if that they just throw themselves at what’s in front of them and think after. On Sunday afternoon there’s no room for overthinking instead it will be about embracing the moment and reaching levels that perhaps individuals didn’t even know that they had in them yet.
As you can tell I’m really looking forward to seeing what will be put out on the park on Sunday afternoon from both the Barbarians and England. The Met Office is forecasting a cool 24 degrees so if you're heading to Twickenham put on a spot of sun cream before you leave and get ready to enjoy some scintillating rugby in the South West London sunshine.
England: 15 Mike Brown 14 Nathan Earle 13 Sam James 12 Alex Lozowski 11 Jonny May 10 George Ford 9 Danny Care 1 Ellis Genge 2 Jack Singleton 3 Will Collier 4 Charlie Ewels 5 Nick Isiekwe 6 Chris Robshaw 7 Sam Underhill 8 Josh Beaumont Replacements:16 George McGuigan 17 Ross Harrison 18 Jamal Ford-Robinson 19 Will Spencer 20 Tom Curry 21 Mark Wilson 22 Richard Wigglesworth 23 Mike Haley
Barbarians: 15 Alex Goode, 14 Timoci Nagusa, 13 Yann David, 12 Frans Steyn, 11 Adam Ashley-Cooper, 10 Ian Madigan, 9 Kahn Fotuali'i; 1 Mikheil Nariashvili, 2 Richard Hibbard, 3 Census Johnston, 4 Patricio Albacete, 5 Jeremy Thrush, 6 Thierry Dusautoir, 7 Steffon Armitage, 8 Facundo Isa Replacements: 16 Schalk Brits, 17 Ben Franks, 18 WP Nel,19 Joe Tekori, 20 Gillian Galan, 21 Ruan Pienaar, 22 Robbie Fruean, 23 Horacio Agulla
