Baa-Baas, under France head coach Fabien Galthie, score seven tries at Twickenham despite La Rochelle and Australia second row Will Skelton’s 37th minute red card; Charles Ollivon, Damian Penaud (two), Batiste Couilloud, Max Spring, Antoine Hastoy and a penalty try
By Michael Cantillon at Twickenham
Last Updated: 19/06/22 5:15pm
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 – Tries: Cokanasiga (36), May (51), Smith (60). Cons: None. Pens: Smith (16, 34).
Barbarians – Tries: Penalty try (19), Ollivon (23), Penaud (38, 54), Couilloud(46), Carbonel (67), Spring (75), Hastoy (78). Cons: Hastoy (24, 68), Kruis (47, 76, 79).
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.
That an England side, while experimental in part but still containing several experienced members, were 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.