England tell Joe to trim schedule

Joe Worsley has been told to pull out of the Barbarians squad for their games against England, Scotland and Wales to ensure he is fit for England's tour to Argentina next month.

But the London Wasps flanker will play one game before the tour as he was today named in the England side to face the Barbarians at Twickenham on Sunday.

England coach Clive Woodward said: "He's had enough rugby and I want to take him to Argentina."

Lions prop Phil Vickery will lead an England side containing eight uncapped players in Sunday's Prudential tour game against the Barbarians at Twickenham.

England boss Clive Woodward has seen his build-up to the game badly affected by injuries.

A lengthy casualty list includes established internationals such as Lawrence Dallaglio, Will Greenwood, Kyran Bracken and Iain Balshaw, while several top names are being rested both this weekend and for next month's one-Test Argentina tour.

On top of that, Woodward could not consider players from Leicester or Sale because of those clubs' respective European final commitments this weekend.

So Woodward will field a youthful, largely inexperienced line-up against a Baa-baas outfit likely to feature world superstars Jonah Lomu, Christian Cullen and Christophe Dominici.

Gloucester young guns James Simpson-Daniel and James Forrester head the contingent of international rookies.

They will be joined by South Africa-born but English-qualified London Irish backs Michael Horak and Geoff Appleford, Bristol wing Phil Christophers, Saracens centre Ben Johnston, Newcastle lock Hugh Vyvyan and London Irish flanker Paul Gustard.

There are England recalls for scrum-half Andy Gomarsall, prop Trevor Woodman and lock Simon Shaw, but Matt Dawson does not feature among the 22, suggesting that Northampton's number nine might be suffering from an injury.

Nick Walshe, newly recruited by Sale from Saracens, has answered a late call from Woodward and will provide scrum-half cover for Gomarsall.

Despite England being without many of their star names, Sunday's non-cap fixture is still set to attract a 60,000 crowd.

It will be England's final game before departing for Buenos Aires on June 10, and several players could clinch tour spots by impressing Woodward this weekend.

Wing Simpson-Daniel has burst on to the Premiership scene this season and, at just 19, could now find himself playing opposite New Zealand juggernaut Lomu.

His Gloucester colleague, 21-year-old flanker Forrester, is another exciting prospect, while full-back Horak and centre Appleford are both rewarded for outstanding seasons with Powergen Cup winners and Heineken Cup qualifiers Irish.

Meanwhile, Richard Hill quit as Harlequins backs coach to join Newport today. He will link up again with new head coach Leigh Jones, having worked with him at Ebbw Vale.

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