England name five rookies against Baa-Baas

ENGLAND will field five international rookies in next Sunday’s non-cap fixture against the Barbarians at Twickenham.

Three of them are up front, where lock Alex Brown, flanker Michael Lipman and number eight Chris Jones all start, while England boss Clive Woodward has also selected Leeds fullback Dan Scarbrough and Sale Sharks wing Mark Cueto.

Despite no Bath or Wasps players being considered because of their Parker Pen Challenge Cup final appointment on the same day, and various injury withdrawals, Woodward can still field a side containing 10 capped personnel for the Lloyds TSB tour game.

Gloucester and Lions prop Phil Vickery will skipper a side which also includes the likes of experienced internationals Kyran Bracken, Mark Regan and Martin Corry.

England won last season's corresponding clash 53-29, but there are only five survivors from that team on duty this time around Vickery, Bristol Shoguns wing Phil Christophers, Saracens centre Ben Johnston, Newcastle fly-half Dave Walder and Harlequins lock Alex Codling.

England coach Clive Woodward said: "This is a big weekend for a lot of these guys as to what happens next. There is not a single player there who isn't in contention for being on the main trip this summer."

Woodward will be looking particularly closely at fullback Dan Scarbrough, wing three-quarters Mark Cueto and Phil Christophers, along with the back row forwards.

"We are making very close calls between these players. It's an opportunity for some of the younger guys to see how we operate and for us to look at them. These games are invaluable to us," said Woodward.

Team: D Scarbrough (Leeds); M Cueto (Sale Sharks), J Noon (Newcastle), B Johnston (Saracens), P Christophers (Bristol Shoguns); D Walder (Newcastle), K Bracken (Saracens); M Worsley (London Irish), M Regan (Leeds), P Vickery (Gloucester, capt), A Codling (Harlequins), A Brown (Bristol Shoguns), M Corry (Leicester), M Lipman (Bristol Shoguns), C Jones (Sale Sharks).

Replacements: A Titterrell (Sale Sharks), D Flatman (Saracens), H Vyvyan (Newcastle), P Anglesea (Sale Sharks), N Walshe (Sale Sharks), K Sorrell (Saracens), S Amor (Gloucester).