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| | Friday, 24 May, 2002, 08:53 GMT 09:53 UK Untested England face spotlight Simpson-Daniel is eyeing up an England tour place England v Barbarians Sunday 26 May, kick-off 1500 BST A young England side faces one of toughest challenges in world rugby when they run out against the Barbarians at Twickenham on Sunday. England boss Clive Woodward has included eight uncapped players in a largely untested side after a lengthy casualty list robbed him of many of his experienced internationals. Lawrence Dallaglio, Will Greenwood, Kyran Bracken and Iain Balshaw are all unable to play a part in a match that looks certain to entertain the sell-out crowd. Jonah Lomu, Christian Cullen and Christophe Dominici will all feature in a Baa-Baas side that also includes powerhouses Abdelatif Benazzi, Ian Jones and captain Todd Blackadder. For England wing James Simpson-Daniel the game represents perhaps the toughest starts to an England career. The 19-year-old Gloucester wing will line up against the All Blacks legend Jonah Lomu in the non-cap international. Simpson-Daniel won the Try of the Season prize at the recent Zurich England Rugby awards and has quickly built a reputation as a live-wire in attack. However, it is his defence that will come under closest scrutiny against the giant Lomu.
But despite giving away more than 40kg to his opponent, the newcomer is confident of holding his own. "Lomu is very strong and very quick, but he has got his weaknesses like anyone else," he said. "He is a world class player but at the same time I am glad to get my chance against him. "He is probably double my weight and something like 6ft 6in, but we have to make sure everything is spot on, that our minds are working quicker. "We have to be careful how much space we give him, how much time to run and build up speed."
In contrast, the Baa-Baas can boast almost 600 Test appearances between them. Lomu and fellow All Black Christian Cullen will be the star attractions in an invitation side led by another New Zealander, Todd Blackadder. But England's newcomers have the incentive of a place on the summer tour to Argentina to inspire them. Simpson-Daniel, who has played for England Sevens this season, said: "We are treating it like a Test match and for me this is a once in a lifetime opportunity. "I have got to take my chances and impress if I can." England: Horak (London Irish); Simpson-Daniel (Gloucester), Appleford (London Irish), Johnston (Saracens), Christophers (Bristol); Walder (Newcastle), Gomarsall (Gloucester); Woodman (Gloucester), Thompson (Northampton), Vickery (Gloucester, capt), Shaw (Wasps), Vyvyan (Newcastle), Gustard (London Irish), Forrester (Gloucester), Worsley (Wasps). Barbarians: Cullen (New Zealand); Rossouw (South Africa), Glas (France), Alatini (New Zealand), Lomu (New Zealand); van Straaten (South Africa), Pichot (Argentina); Califano (France), Drotske (South Africa), Garvey (South Africa), Benazzi (France), Jones (New Zealand), Blackadder (New Zealand, capt), Vanisi (Wellington Hurricanes), Taylor (Scotland). | |
See also:  22 May 02 | International 22 May 02 | International 16 May 02 | Rugby Union 22 Apr 02 | Rugby Union 25 Mar 02 | Rugby Union Internet links: The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites Top International stories now: Links to more International stories are at the foot of the page. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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