England captain Nick Easter reckons facing the Barbarians on Sunday will represent a very different challenge to the international norm at Twickenham.
Team boss Martin Johnson’s men kick-off their summer tour to Australia at the weekend with a traditional clash with the legendary invitational team.
Easter will lead the team in the absence of Lewis Moody, who plays for Leicester Tigers in the Guinness Premiership final on Saturday, and he is expecting a stiff examination.
“They are a bigger challenge than years gone by. There was a fear professionalism would weaken them but that hasn’t happened,” he told the RFU website.
“They have managed to put out some really good sides, that are really competitive.
“It will be a chance for us to play a side that will not play international rugby the way international sides usually do. It will be fast and furious, and will be a good game to approach our tour to Australia with.”
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