Easter skippers England

Harlequins forward Nick Easter will lead an England side full of international hopefuls for the game against the Barbarians at Twickenham on Sunday.

Players from Leicester and Wasps were not considered because of their participation in Saturday's Guinness Premiership final, while Bath's players will not take part after their European Challenge Cup win last weekend.

Easter captains an England starting XV on Saturday containing nine previously capped players, with the untested players trying to push for a place on the two-Test tour of New Zealand.

With Danny Cipriani and Jonny Wilkinson both out injured, Sale's Charlie Hodgson has the chance to lay down a marker at fly-half with a good display against the Baa-Baas.

Midfield

Mathew Tait and Toby Flood make up the midfield, while London Irish winger Topsy Ojo is the only uncapped player in the backs.

There are more untested players looking to impress in the forwards though, with an untried front row of Nick Lloyd, David Paice and Jason Hobson starting the game.

Easter, Gloucester's Luke Narraway and Sale Sharks lock Chris Jones are the only forwards with England international experience in the pack.

Northampton hooker Dylan Hartley, who could have played in the World Cup but for a six-month ban, starts from the bench on Sunday.

England's new coaching staff take their side to New Zealand to New Zealand for tests against the All Blacks in Auckland and Christchurch.

England team:

M Brown (Harlequins); T Ojo (London Irish), M Tait (Newcastle), T Flood (Newcastle), D Strettle (Harlequins); C Hodgson (Sale Sharks), R Wigglesworth (Sale Sharks); N Lloyd (Saracens), D Paice (London Irish), J Hobson (Bristol), C Jones (Sale Sharks), N Kennedy (London Irish), L Narraway (Gloucester), W Skinner (Harlequins), N Easter (Harlequins, captain).

Replacements: D Hartley (Northampton), D Wilson (Newcastle), S Hooper (Leeds Carnegie), T Guest (Harlequins), D Care (Harlequins), P Richards (London Irish), U Monye (Harlequins).