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May 31, 2009 - 6:59AM
LONDON - Wallaby flanker Rocky Elsom scored a try to help Martin Corry and Josh Lewsey say farewell to Twickenham as members of a Barbarians side that beat England 33-26 at Twickenham this morning.
England veterans Corry and Lewsey were appearing for a star-studded team which also included seven ex-All Blacks and Elsom, the hero of Leinster's European Cup final victory over Leicester last weekend at Murrayfield.
The Barbarians were 33-5 up early in the second-half and although the hosts fought back in the closing stages they'd left themselves with too much to do at a sun-drenched Twickenham.
Martin Johnson's youthful side, who next week face Argentina at Old Trafford football ground in the first of two Tests against the Pumas, conceded five tries with former England wing Iain Balshaw crossing twice.
But although the likes of experienced duo Ben Kay and Mark Cueto will be available for the Pumas, while the likes of Joe Worsley and Simon Shaw are on tour with the British and Irish Lions in South Africa, former England captain Johnson will still be concerned by the defensive frailties on show on Saturday.
World Cup winning duo Corry and Lewsey, who are both calling time on their professional careers, were both involved as the Barbarians went 14-0 ahead thanks to tries from Balshaw and Kiwi Chris Jack.
Ben Foden, one of six players making their first England start, scored a try to cut the Barbarians' interval lead to 14-5.
But the invitational side were not to be deterred and they went clear with ease as Elsom, Balshaw for a second time, and Ireland centre Gordon D'Arcy all crossed England's line.
Jordan Turner-Hall, Tom May and Matt Banahan all scored debut tries for England as the Barbarians' fitness started to fade in the closing stages but the home side had left it too late to snatch victory.
Lewsey's clever kick behind the defence set up Balshaw's first try and, while England showed some early promise in attack, the men in white shirts paid for a lack of cohesion in defence.
Second-row Jack charged in at the corner, after a fine run by back-row Corry, before New Zealand's Ben Blair converted to make it 14-0.
The came utility back Foden's try but any hopes this would lead to an improved England display at the start of the second-half were soon dashed.
Elsom, lauded by Ireland captain Brian O'Driscoll as the key to Leinster's European Cup triumph, took a pass friom the on-song Blair and outpaced England back-row Nick Easter.
Balshaw followed up and Lewsey then walted round Louis Deacon and Steve Borthwick before sending in D'Arcy.
England were then spared the embarrassment of conceding a 50 metre try to a hooker only thanks to impressive full-back Delon Armitage's last-ditch tackle on South African Schalk Britz.
England avoided a record defeat against the Barbarians thanks to a late treble of 'kick-tries' created by the boot of fly-half Andy Goode.
England 26: Tries - Ben Foden, Jordan Turner-Hall, Tom May, Matt Banahan; Conversions - Andy Goode (3)
Barbarians 33: Tries - Iain Balshaw (ENG) (2), Chris Jack (NZL), Rocky Elsom (AUS), Gordon D'Arcy (IRL); Conversions - Ben Blair (NZL) (4)
http://www.rugbyheaven.com.au/news/n...708335275.html
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