England 57 Barbarians 26:CHRIS ASHTON rediscovered his scoring touch with a Twickenham hat-trick as England warmed up for their tour of South Africa with a comfortable victory over the Barbarians.
Ashton, the joint-leading try-scorer at the World Cup, had drawn a blank in each of his last six Test matches but he roamed menacingly yesterday and touched down twice before the interval and once after.
Although this was not a capped international, a third hat-trick in England colours was a timely confidence boost for Ashton before next month’s three-Test series against the Springboks.
The tries were taken soberly too. There was no sign of the elaborate and controversial ‘Ash Splash’ dive he pledged to shelve as “the end of an era”.
England hooker Dylan Hartley accepted his own opportunity to make a fresh start with both hands, scoring a try and organising England’s forward effort effectively on his return from an eight-week biting ban.
Christian Wade capped a busy afternoon on his senior debut with a try just before the hour and England’s win was rounded off by a try from Richard Wigglesworth and two from Jonathan Joseph.
Of those who caught the eye without making the scoresheet, Mouritz Botha produced a barnstorming second row performance and Tom Johnson delivered a strong display on the blindside flank.
England coach Stuart Lancaster still has issues to resolve before the Test series, not least over who should start at outhalf after a rusty performance from Owen Farrell.
England will also be disappointed to have conceded four tries to the Barbarians, one of which was scored by former red rose centre Mike Tindall.
Mils Muliaina scored the Barbarians’ first two tries and Biarritz’s Pelu Taele added the other late on.
The England touring squad will be boosted by the 18-strong Harlequins and Leicester contingent, who were unavailable after yesterday’s Aviva Premiership final.
Phil Dowson captained England in the absence of Chris Robshaw but there will be question marks over his fitness after he left the game on a stretcher.
Lancaster is “pretty confident” Manu Tuilagi will escape censure for an illegal tackle on Danny Care and be available for the tour to South Africa.
Lancaster has also stated he expects Toby Flood to be fit, despite the injured Leicester outhalf being withdrawn from both the English Premiership semi-final and yesterday’s final.
ENGLAND: Foden; Ashton, Barritt, Farrell, Wade; Hodgson, Dickson; Stevens, Hartley, Doran-Jones, Botha, Palmer, Johnson, Fearns, Dowson. Replacements: Goode for Foden (50), Joseph for Hodgson (50), Wigglesworth for Dickson (61), Mullan for Stevens (41), Launchbury for Botha (56), Gibson for Fearns (56), Mears for Dowson (60).
BARBARIANS: Muliaina; Sackey, Laulala, Tindall, Balshaw; Donald, Lawson; Tialata, Smit, Afoa, Chisholm, A van Zyl, Joubert, Qera, Beattie. Replacements: Tagicakibau for Sackey (44), Contepomi for Tindall (68), Fillol for Lawson (57), Jones for Tialata (60), August for Smit (60), Lakafia for Qera (60), Taele for Beattie (68).
Referee: John Lacey (Ireland).
