England 21 – 52 Barbarians

The Barbarians ran in seven tries at Twickenham despite playing for 43 minutes with a man less

A French-inspired Barbarians side shrugged off the loss of La Rochelle lock Will Skelton to a first-half red card to batter England 52-21 at Twickenham.

In all, the Baa-Baas scored seven tries through skipper and back-row Charles Ollivon, Clermont and France wing Damian Penaud (two), Lyon scrum-half Batiste Couilloud, Racing 92 full-back Max Spring, Pau out-half Antoine Hastoy and a penalty try.

Skelton was dismissed after connecting with the head of uncapped Exeter prop Patrick Schickerling with a leading shoulder, but the Barbarians produced some stunning rugby thereafter to entertain a healthy Twickenham crowd.

Retiring former England and Saracens second row George Kruis also landed a hat-trick of conversions for the Baa-Baas in a party atmosphere for the visitors, one of which came via a comical backheel off the tee.

England scored tries through wings Joe Cokanasiga and Jonny May, as well as playmaker Marcus Smith, but the latter missed all three conversions, landing two penalties from three attempts.

The fact that an England side – experimental in part but still containing several experienced members – could be so outplayed by a disjointed and exhausted, albeit talented Barbarians side, should concern head coach Eddie Jones greatly ahead of their tour of Australia, live on Sky Sports.

Former England and Saracens second row George Kruis landed three conversions in his final game before retirement

An opening quarter epitomised by frequent mistakes in attack, particularly by England, did not see a point scored until the 16th minute as Hastoy missed with his first effort off the tee, before Smith struck over from close range after an offside call.

Within a couple of minutes, the Barbarians looked to be in for their opening try as Racing 92 and France centre Virimi Vakatawa acrobatically dived for the corner. TMO Ben Whitehouse decreed that Vakatawa had knocked on while taking in the ball before attempting to score, harshly denying the try.

During the same stoppage, however, the TMO requested a review for a piece of play earlier in the move on the opposite wing, where England’s May was found to have intentionally knocked on as the last defender, sent to the sin bin and a penalty try awarded.

As England looked to shake off their rust and respond in attack, instead it was the Barbarians who would strike a second try – Ollivon, who missed France’s 2022 Grand Slam due to a serious knee injury, brilliantly intercepting a Randall pass at piece before sprinting nearly the length of the pitch to score.

Charles Ollivon ran nearly the length of the pitch for the Baa-Baas’ second try

The 6’7″ back-row forward had looked for support to pass to the whole way through his run, with Randall in chase, but in the end chose to hold on, ride the challenge of the diminutive scrum-half, and dive over.

Hastoy converted for 14-3, before Jones made the decision to sub off tighthead prop Will Collier just 29 minutes in for the uncapped Schickerling.

England had chosen to point to the sticks instead of attacking whenever afforded penalties in the Baa-Baas half, with Smith missing from distance with a poor strike, before than landing his third effort after a tackle off the ball from centre Levani Botia.

Marcus Smith scored a try but endured a day to forget with the boot, missing four kicks from the tee

On 36 minutes, England finally got in for a try as powerful wing Cokanasiga held off the challenge of Vakatawa to stretch out and score after a lovely sequence of offloading. The award of which came just prior to the most significant moment of the contest.

TMO Whitehouse was soon in the frame again, as he called for a review to Skelton’s tackle, and though a shame for the game, it was hard to argue against the red card call, with the big Australian lock connecting with the face of Schickerling with a leading shoulder, well after the England prop had knocked on.

Will Skelton was red carded by Italian referee Andrea Piardi for a high tackle

It was the Baa-Baas who would change the scoreboard next, however, as Clermont and France wing Penaud ran in for their third courtesy of another intercept – albeit the wing showed a stunning piece of handling to take the ball in and score for a 19-11 half-time lead.

Damian Penaud was superb for the visitors, scoring twice and defending strongly

The Barbarians continued to shrug off the absence of Skelton when a defensive lapse allowed Yoan Tanga to surge through the middle and Couilloud arrived to complete the move.

England looked to spring into life, with Danny Care’s arrival making a difference as Smith began to try and create in attack, as May sped in for a try, but Penaud added a second with an acrobatic finish that was examined in great detail by the TMO.

Big carries by Tom Curry and May created the space for Smith to dart over but despite showing encouraging flashes in attack, England just could not pull clear.

Nolann Le Garrec chipped over the defence for Carbonel to touch down but there was better to come from the Barbarians as Spring touched down after a sweeping move before Hastoy completed the rout.

Louis Carbonel (No 22) celebrates his crucial second half try

What’s next?

For England, they next travel to Australia for a three-Test series vs the Wallabies next month, all live and exclusive on Sky Sports Action.

The first Test takes place in Perth on Saturday, July 2 (10.55am GMT kick off), the second Test is in Brisbane on Saturday, July 9 (10.55am GMT) and the third and final Test is in Sydney on Saturday, July 16 (10.55am GMT).

Jones and co will be looking for a repeat of their successful 2016 three-Test tour to Australia, in which England whitewashed the Wallabies 3-0 under their current coach.