//]]>

Eddie Jones: Barbarians style makes the game entertaining

eddie.jpg
England will relish ending the domestic season against a Barbarians side renowned for playing with “a style and a panache that makes the game entertaining”. 

Head coach Eddie Jones is looking forward to facing the world famous invitation side at Twickenham Stadium on May 28.

He regards the Old Mutual Wealth Cup clash as the ideal warm-up game for England’s two-Test tour to Argentina.

And the Barbarians will be eager to impress on their return to action after a stellar Autumn series which saw them draw 31-31 with South Africa before big wins against the Czech Republic (71-0) and Fiji (40-7).

Watch Eddie Jones preview the England v Barbarians game here

"It’s great to have that fixture back on our list,” said Jones.

"I think the Barbarians are one of the traditional sides in the world and it gives the opportunity for guys who aren’t playing international rugby. They play with a style and a panache that makes the game entertaining. For us to have that fixture as a warm-up for the Argentina tour is a great bonus for us.

"It’s a once in a lifetime opportunity for players to play for the Barbarians and to play against the Barbarians, so it’s that special sort of game that’s etched in everyone’s memory.”

The sides have met 15 times since their first encounter in 1990 with England leading the series 8-7. The Barbarians won the 2014 encounter 39-29 but the last meeting saw England run up a record 73-12 victory.

"Part of the reason we did well in Australia was that Test we had against Wales where we were able to play a lot of players who hadn’t been playing and to play in a high level game so this Barbarians fixture is going to be enormously important. 

"We’re hoping to have 10-15 players in the Lions squad so we’re going to have to put together a side very quickly and certainly that Barbarians game is very important.”

Tickets for the Old Mutual Wealth Cup match on May 28 are on sale now. Go to www.englandrugby.com/tickets