England out to prove point to Woodward

Hugh Vyvyan is relishing the opportunity to test himself against some of the biggest names in world rugby when England meet the Barbarians on Sunday.

Vyvyan will lead Clive Woodward’s scratch team before a 72,000-strong crowd at Twickenham looking to press his claims for full international recognition.

Still uncapped, the athletic forward was an unused bench replacement for England’s Test against Argentina in 2002 and was part of the side which helped beat New Zealand Barbarians last December.

Skipper of the shadow England side which competed in last year’s Churchill Cup in Canada and trusted with the leadership duties during the same tournament this summer, Vyvyan has rarely let Woodward down.

But with the likes of Lawrence Dallaglio, Chris Jones, Joe Worsley and Martin Corry ahead of him in the pecking order, the back rower has yet to make his presence felt in the Test arena.

Sunday’s traditional fixture against the star-studded Barbarians, however, will give him the perfect opportunity to shine against quality opposition whose initial squad totalled 1,317 caps.

Vyvyan has warned Bob Dwyer’s men that his team-mates will also be out to prove themselves to Woodward and his coaching lieutenants Andy Robinson and Phil Larder.

“This a huge opportunity for all of the players to show what they’re made of. It’s a very young squad and all of us are out to show what we can do on the big stage,” he said.

“You only have to look at the Barbarians squad to realise it’s going to be a huge challenge for us.

"They’re a great side but that just makes it even more exciting.

“We’ll be playing against some of the biggest names around so it’s daunting to a certain extent. But we really want to test ourselves against that calibre of player.

“If we acquit ourselves it can only have good implications for our international futures.”

Once the Barbarians match is over, Vyvyan and a large portion of his squad will turn their attention to the Churchill Cup.

Jim Mallinder and Steve Diamond will coach England’s party once again but any hope that their side will win the tournament with ease for the second successive year has been erased by the presence of the New Zealand Maoris.

The Maoris – who England are likely to meet in the final – are a crack outfit capable of putting top teams through the grinder for 80 minutes.

“It was a fantastic tour last year but it’s going to be much harder this time because the Maoris are in the tournament,” said Vyvyan.

“It will be a good competition. Last year was great. We beat the Canadians, beat the Americans twice and then went to Japan on tour and beat them twice.

“There were five games in total and we finished with five good victories, so it was a very successful tour for everyone involved.”

After a brief break upon his return from north America, Vyvyan’s hectic schedule will resume with his move to Saracens, whom he has agreed to join following a successful stint a Newcastle.

“I ended my career in style at Newcastle by winning the Powergen Cup this season but I’m looking forward to the move south,” he said.

“Saracens have signed a lot of very, very good players. It’s definitely a club on the up. I was impressed with the set-up when I went down and I think the next couple of years will be an exciting period of my life.

“To play alongside quality players like Taine Randell, Richard Hill and Alex Sanderson is exactly what I need.”