England experiment with newcomers

Joe Marler
12 April 2012

England will start with five uncapped players in Sunday's non-cap international against the Barbarians at Twickenham.

Harlequins prop Joe Marler, Worcester lock Graham Kitchener, Exeter flanker Tom Johnson and Sale loose-forward Carl Fearns all feature in the pack, while Gloucester's Henry Trinder has been named at outside centre.

Gloucester number eight Luke Narraway, confirmed as captain earlier this week, is among a group of more experienced players looking to press their claims for a place in England's World Cup training squad.

Prop Paul Doran-Jones and lock Dave Attwood are both live World Cup contenders, while England are using this game as an opportunity to try Matt Banahan at inside centre.

Charlie Hodgson, who like Banahan seems set for a place in England's full World Cup squad, starts at fly-half with Paul Hodgson at scrum-half.

Ugo Monye and James Simpson-Daniel start on the wings and Mike Brown gets a run at full-back after an impressive season for Harlequins.

The bulk of the squad, being coached by Stuart Lancaster, will remain together for next month's Churchill Cup.

Lancaster said: "It's a very exciting line-up with a good blend of experience and youth and we have the opportunity to measure ourselves against a very experienced Barbarians side, including some of the very best players in the world, on Sunday."

England team: M Brown (Harlequins), J Simpson-Daniel (Gloucester), H Trinder (Gloucester), M Banahan (Bath), U Monye (Harlequins), C Hodgson (Sale), P Hodgson (London Irish); J Marler (Harlequins), D Paice (London Irish), P Doran-Jones (Gloucester), G Kitchener (Worcester), D Attwood (Gloucester), T Johnson (Exeter), C Fearns (Sale), L Narraway (Gloucester, capt).

Replacements: J Gray (Harlequins), K Brookes (Newcastle), J Gaskell (Sale), J Gibson (London Irish), M Young (Newcastle), S Myler (Northampton), J Turner-Hall (Harlequins).

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