D'Arcy to start for Barbarians

Ireland centre Gordon D’Arcy will start for the Barbarians against England on Saturday and will be joined in the side by Leinster…

Ireland centre Gordon D’Arcy will start for the Barbarians against England on Saturday and will be joined in the side by Leinster team-mate Rocky Elsom and Munster’s New Zealand wing Doug Howlett.

Another of Leinster’s European Cup winners, scumhalf Chirs Whitaker, is named on the bench, but all eyes in London will be on Martin Corry, who will say his farewell to the Twickenham crowd when he leads the Ba-Baas out.

The retiring former England captain and Lions backrow will play his penultimate senior match with the Barbarians, ahead of the match against the Wallabies in Sydney on June 6th.

The 35-year-old will be joined by fellow World Cup winner Josh Lewsey, who is also playing his final game on English soil.

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London Irish’s veteran outhalf Mike Catt, who also looks set to end his playing career, is included on the bench.

Seven former All Blacks are involved - Ben Blair, Howlett, Justin Marshall, Clarke Dermody, Greg Somerville, Chris Jack and Jerry Collins.

England team:D Armitage, B Foden, J Noon, J Turner-Hall, M Banahan, A Goode, D Care; N Easter, L Moody, C Robshaw, L Deacon, S Borthwick, D Wilson, D Hartley, T Payne.

Barbarians team:B Blair (Cardiff Blues & New Zealand); D Howlett (Munster & New Zealand), J Lewsey (London Wasps & England), G D'Arcy (Leinster & Ireland) I Balshaw (Gloucester Rugby & England); G Jackson (Saracens), J Marshall (Saracens & New Zealand); C Dermody (London Irish & New Zealand), S Brits (Stormers & South Africa), G Somerville (Gloucester Rugby & New Zealand), M Corry (Leicester Tigers & England, captain), C Jack (Saracens & New Zealand), J Collins (Toulon & New Zealand), S Betsen (London Wasps & France), R Elsom (Leinster & Australia).

Replacements: S Bruno (Sale Sharks & France), B J Botha (Ulster & South Africa), P Tito (Cardiff Blues), P Waugh (Waratahs & Australia), C Whitaker (Leinster & Australia), M Catt (London Irish & England), R Nasiganiyavi (Waratahs).