Monday 1 June 2015 07:31, UK
Christian Wade scored a hat-trick as England's hopefuls ran riot with a 73-12 win over the Barbarians at Twickenham.
There were ten tries in total for England as their attacking intent matched the traditional style of the Barbarians despite a slippery pitch welcoming the two sides.
The star of the show was man-of-the-match Danny Cipriani who slotted eleven kicks from eleven attempts as well as adding two tries for a personal tally of 33 points as Stuart Lancaster looked on.
It was a weekend filled with fly-half dilemmas for Stuart Lancaster, who witnessed a superb showing from Saracens’ Owen Farrell in the Premiership final on Saturday.
With Farrell and his teammates - as well as the Bath squad - out of contention for the Barbarians game on Sunday, it was an opportunity for England's hopeful young stars to impress Lancaster ahead of the World Cup in September.
Cipriani was a frontrunner in laying claim to a World Cup jersey while Wade continued his lucrative try-scoring record for England against the Barbarians.
In the midfield Henry Slade and Elliot Daly formed a formidable partnership, with Slade's passing and Daly's quick feet providing space for England to attack out wide. In the forwards Exeter hooker Luke Cowan-Dickie provided a wide-ranging performance, having a hand in the opening try from Marland Yarde.
Yarde’s try was matched by the Barbarians through now-retired Brad Thorn, and with Cipriani being asked to edge England ahead with the boot shortly thereafter, it looked to be a close affair between the two teams.
In the 20th minute Thomas Waldrom received a yellow card for a cynical tackle on a kick chaser, and while he was off the field England piled on the points. By the time the Chiefs No 8 returned to the field his side was 31-5 down thanks to efforts from forwards Ed Slater and Jack Clifford as well as Wade’s first of the night.
Two more tries followed before the break, and England piled on another four in the second half. The Barbarians managed to stop the rot before Brad Thorn saw out his playing days with ten minutes in the sin bin as England cruised to a 73-12 win.
