England go for youth to take on Barbarians

By Mitch Phillips

LONDON (Reuters) - England on Wednesday named a youthful and inexperienced side for their non-cap game against the Barbarians at Twickenham on Sunday, their first match of the post-Brian Ashton era.

New manager Martin Johnson was involved in selecting the team, as he was for the touring party for next month’s two-test trip to New Zealand, but director of elite rugby Rob Andrew will look after the touchline duties on Sunday.

Fans of exciting rugby could be in for a treat with an England backline that includes uncapped London Irish winger Topsy Ojo, Harlequins fullback Mike Brown and free-running trio Dave Strettle, Mathew Tait and Toby Flood.

Flyhalf Charlie Hodgson, who made his last senior England start in 2006, has the chance to nail down the starting berth for the senior side after injuries ruled out Jonny Wilkinson and Danny Cipriani from the New Zealand tour.

There is an even fresher look to the pack where the front row are all uncapped -- props Nick Lloyd and Jason Hobson and hooker David Paice -- while lock Nick Kennedy and flanker Will Skinner are also uncapped.

Number eight Nick Easter will captain the team, which did not involve any players from Leicester or Wasps, who meet in the Premiership final on Saturday, or Bath, who were excused boots after their European Challenge Cup final win last week.

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15-Mike Brown, 14-Topsy Ojo, 13-Mathew Tait, 12-Toby Flood, 11-Dave Strettle, 10-Charlie Hodgson, 9-Richard Wigglesworth, 8-Nick Easter (captain), 7-Will Skinner, 6-Luke Narraway, 5-Nick Kennedy, 4-Chris Jones, 3-Jason Hobson, 2-David Paice, 1-Nick Lloyd. Replacements: 16-Dylan Hartley, 17-David Wilson, 18-Stuart Hooper, 18-Tom Guest, 20-Danny Care, 21-Peter Richards, 22- Ugo Monye

(Writing by Mitch Phillips, editing by Karolos Grohmann)