Ashton scores hat-trick as Barbarians humble England

There were red faces all round at Twickenham, the spectators burned by the sun, England burnished by the shame of losing to a scratch Barbarians side for the first time in seven years and conceding the most amount of points at home in 108 years of rugby at HQ.

The fixture was meant to be a loosener ahead of the tour to South Africa and even though England were without their Saracens and Exeter players, this was a ramshackle, chastening performance.

The Quilter Cup may not have Test-match status, but there is little doubt that after a desperately poor 2018 Six Nations Championship, England needed a boost. Instead, this is yet another set-back ahead of their departure for South Africa on Saturday. The Springboks at Ellis Park in a fortnight’s time has a nightmarish tinge to it.

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And if such a public embarrassment needed any extra twist to it, it was provided by one of the Barbarians’ star turns, Toulon’s Chris Ashton. An Englishman in exile, Ashton made sure that everyone back in this country would have an appreciation of what they are missing with a hat-trick of tries scored by the 25^th minute, all of them trademark sharp-eyed, sharp-heeled acts of athleticism.

England had few answers to the Barbarians’ power plays, and the visitors led 21-0 within 12 minutes. They scored nine tries in all, with Fijian centre Semi Radradra unstoppable by the sheer strength of his running and the elan of his passing.

The BaaBaas made 751 metres across a coruscating afternoon, beating 34 defenders and making 12 clean breaks. On a day of such joyful rugby from them, with verve and nerve in equal measure, the memory bank on overload, it is actually the cold stats that are so arresting. England missed 34 tackles, the normally implacable Chris Robshaw having six blobs against his name.

As per Barbarians conventions, they had only three training sessions together and spent each and every midweek night out to dinner and events with each other, a no-holds-barred, fancy dress, 70s-themed party the highlight.

There was little upbeat news for England. Elliot Daly looked the part at full-back, although that experiment didn’t last long as a reshuffle was needed when centre Henry Trinder went off with a head injury, Danny Cipriani coming on. Tom Curry battled manfully on the flank while fly-half George Ford quelled the doubters with a typically perceptive and engaged performance.

Of course, the full England side would have more clout and substance to it, and would not be brushed aside in defence as happened against the Barbarians. Those Saracen reinforcements are much needed.

Ashton’s impact on the match was remarkable even by the standards of a man whose try-scoring feats have seen his name etched into many a record book. It was as if the 31 year-old had a point to prove, which, of course, he did.

Ashton has not changed. He is a poacher, a brilliant reader of play, sensing where the action will be and always, but always, on hand for the potential scoring pass. None of that is possible without a prodigious work ethic. Ashton is a grafter as well as a scorer, meriting all his tries for the effort expended.

His hat-trick owed much to the Toulon connection, Ashton combining with wing Josua Tuisova and Radradra, the trio showing a fine sense of each other as the Barbarians let rip with their familiar brand of free-wheeling rugby.

Radradra split the England midfield defence from within his own 22, Tuisova took it on and flipped up to Ashton as he crossed the line. His second saw him chip and gather while the third, which followed Victor Vito’s, saw him track Finn Russell and take a simple inside pass. It was crisp, it was assured and it showed up starkly with what hapless England were offering at the time. England have missed such potency, a failing put in sharp relief with Jones’ decision to select Harlequins full-back Mike Brown on the left wing.

The Barbarians were created to entertain and Pat Lam’s side lived up to those rich traditions, never forgetting that in order to run free the forwards have to first work hard to get some ball. Those beasts of burden kept their share of the bargain so that the backs could cut loose. The pick of the Barbarians’ tries was the seventh when those forwards got in on the act themselves with lock Sitaleki Timani rounding off a sequence that started with a trademark tricky run from Malaka Fekitoa, skinning Chris Robshaw, Tuisova taking it on before prop Loni Uhila managed to flick it up to his second-row forward to score.

Piers Francis scored two tries for England with Daly, Zach Mercer, Joe Launchbury and Jonny May getting the others.

Radradra, Vito, Greg Laidlaw and Russell were the other Barbarian try-scorers, a sun-kissed afternoon rounded off with the sight of retiring BaaBaas captain Juan Martin Fernandez Lobbe kicking the conversion.

4:59PM

George Ford

"We weren't good enough by a long way. We'll have to have a look at it because we can't be performing like that."

4:58PM

Man of the match

Semi Radradra, who was phenomenal, says it was a "privilege and an honour" to play for the Barbarians.

Chris Ashton says it has been an "amazing week". He also says that he wanted to say hello to Eddie Jones before kick-off just so he didn't forget who Ashton was.

I don't think Jones will forget this afternoon and Ashton's exploits anytime soon.

4:55PM

Full-time | England 45-63 Barbarians, 79 minutes

That really is a horrible result for England as they shift their focus to South Africa.

4:53PM

Try, Victor Vito! England 45-63 Barbarians, 79 minutes

The final flourish comes from the Barbarians, who go through 60. Ouch.

Lobbe is back on to take the conversion...and he nails it. Another nice moment.

4:48PM

Try, Jonny May! England 45-56 Barbarians, 77 minutes

A consolation score for England, and it's made by Cipriani. His grubber through is collected by May. They'll want another flourish too.

4:43PM

Try, Greig Laidlaw! England 38-56 Barbarians, 73 minutes

Radradra offload, Tuisova through - and another unselfish pass, this time to Laidlaw!  The conversion is good. The Barbarians pass a half century.

4:41PM

England 38-49 Barbarians, 70 minutes

Josh Beaumont is on and he's given away a penalty - spotted by assistant referee Nigel Owens - for Radradra. Barbarians are in the corner.

4:37PM

No try

England have a scrum. Ten minutes left.

4:37PM

TMO

Has Ashton scored a fourth?!

4:35PM

England 38-49 Barbarians, 66 minutes

England cough up a breakdown penalty but get one back a minute later.

4:32PM

England 38-49 Barbarians, 65 minutes

England are awarded a scrum penalty and go to the corner...

4:27PM

England 38-49 Barbarians, 62 minutes

Dan Robson replaces Ben Youngs and Nick Schonert comes on for Kyle Sinckler.

4:26PM

Try, Sitaleki Timani! England 38-49 Barbarians, 59 minutes

Fantastic. Malakai Fekitoa made the initial break and offloaded to tuisova, who danced along the touchline and threw an offload inside to replacement prop Loni Uhila, who threw a rolling offload of his own back inside to Timani.

Russell, who has been brilliant, lands the touchline conversion.

4:23PM

TMO

We're going upstairs for what could be a fabulous Barbarians try featuring about 43 offloads.

4:22PM

Match action

Elliot Daly has been bright for England.

4:19PM

Try, Joe Launchbury! England 38-42 Barbarians, 55 minutes

After a series of pick-and-go shunts towards the whitewash, Launchbury spins and wrestles the ball into the base of the posts. Ford converts. There is still over a quarter of this mad game remaining.

4:15PM

England 31-42 Barbarians, 53 minutes

England have been pounding the Barbarians line for a good spell. They have a five-metre scrum now...

4:14PM

Lovely moment

Twickenham rises to salute Juan Martin Fernandez Lobbe, who leaves the field for the final time in professional rugby.

4:10PM

Penalty, George Ford! England 31-42 Barbarians, 48 minutes

Hang on. Referee Raynal gets a shout from his TMO, who tells him that Sitaleki Timani used his hands in the ruck. To a chorus of boos, England go for the posts.

Ford adds the three and Denny Solomona is on for Mike Brown.

4:07PM

England 28-42 Barbarians, 47 minutes

Chris Robshaw gets over the ball to win a penalty and England go to touch...then there is a knock on in midfield a few phases later.

4:05PM

Replacements

Mark Wilson and Ellis Genge are on for Zach Mercer and Joe Marler.

4:04PM

Try, Semi Radradra! England 28-42 Barbarians, 42 minutes

No respite for England. From the lineout, the Barbarians go off the top and Radradra explodes through Chris Robshaw and goes around May. So easy.

The Barbarians have been huddling up to celebrate as a 23 after every try:

The England huddle looks less happy:

4:01PM

England 28-35 Barbarians, 42 minutes

Good defence from England Jonny May rushes up and forces Vito to spill.

4:00PM

England 28-35 Barbarians, 41 minutes

Henry Trinder is not coming back on even though Sky Sports are reporting that he passed his HIA. Meanwhile, Tom Curry concedes a breakdown penalty and the Barbarians go to the corner...

3:58PM

Second half

Off we go again. "Ball retention and detail at the breakdown" are two themes highlighted by Dylan Hartley in punditry.

3:46PM

Half-time | England 28-35 Barbarians

What a half. What a story.

3:46PM

Try, Finn Russell! England 28-35 Barbarians, 40 minutes

More nice stuff from Ashton. He fades behind the decoy line of Victor Vito, takes a pass from Russell, speeds through the line and puts Russell away.

Russell is over and the Barbarians have the lead back.

3:39PM

England 28-28 Barbarians, 35 minutes

Ominously, England are having a few breakdown issues. They've shipped a few penalties and turnovers already.

3:37PM

Match action

Here's Jack Singleton charging into open space.

3:34PM

Try, Piers Francis! England 28-28 Barbarians, 30 minutes

It's mayhem. Total mayhem. The Barbarians try a cross-kick from deep that George Ford collects. He shimmies across-field and puts Francis through. We are all square.

3:32PM

Reshuffle

So Cipriani has dropped to full-back with Daly switching to outside centre.

3:31PM

Try, Zach Mercer! England 21-28 Barbarians, 29 minutes

Danny Cipriani is on for Henry Trinder, who is undergoing a HIA.

Francis harries after the restart and wins the ball back. Daly then bursts through midfield and Mercer is on his shoulder! That's the SEVENTH try of the game already.

3:30PM

Try, Chris Ashton! England 14-28 Barbarians, 25 minutes

It's getting even more fractured and Ashton is over for his hat-trick!

A freakish offload from Victor Vito...

...frees Finn Russell and the full-back is in! Russell converts but hold on...

3:24PM

Try, Piers Francis! England 14-21 Barbarians, 20 minutes

It's going to be helter-skelter this afternoon. Barbarians get in front of the kicker at the restart so England have a scrum and go quickly from a free-kick.

Jack Singleton then hits a gorgeous line off George Ford and Francis follows up to score under the posts. Ford converts.

3:21PM

Try, Elliot Daly! England 7-21 Barbarians, 17 minutes

Hugely important try. England muscle a scrum penalty and go to the corner again. Their maul ekes out a penalty advantage so the hosts go wide and Jonny May arcs around to beat Radradra before feeding Daly.

The full-back has some work to do but stays strong, with the help of a latch from May, to score. Ford adds two extra points.

3:17PM

England 0-21 Barbarians, 15 minutes

England have a foothold. They win  breakdown penalty from the restart and go to the corner...but Barbarians force a maul turnover.

3:15PM

Try, Victor Vito! England 0-21 Barbarians, 11 minutes

This is already getting absolutely horrible for England. Barbarians win a penalty and go to the corner, where they are awarded a free-kick.

Pat Lam's side run a trick play and the ball goes out the back to Finn Russell, who chips through for Vito to dot down! Russell lands a third conversion.

3:10PM

Try, Chris Ashton! England 0-14 Barbarians, 7 minutes

Amazing. The Barbarians spread it right and Tuisova monsters Piers Francis before releasing an offload to Ashton, who chips over Elliot Daly to score.

Finn Russell converts again.

3:09PM

England 0-7 Barbarians, 6 minutes

We have our first scrum...

...and the Barbarians get a free-kick. They're off again.

3:06PM

Try, Chris Ashton! England 0-7 Barbarians, 3 minutes

Wow! That didn't take long! Semi Radradra bursts through Henry Trinder and Chris Robshaw and links with Josua Tuisova, who out-strips Mike Brown.

With the try-line at his mercy, Tuisova passes to Ashton, who gets a LOT of air on an Ash Splash.

Finn Russell converts.

3:02PM

Kick-off

Frenchman Mathieu Raynal is the referee today and he gets things underway with a blast of his whistle. George Ford goes short and immediately England win the ball back thanks to a chasing Mike Brown.

Joe Launchbury careers into the Barbarians 22 but the attack breaks down soon afterwards as Ben Youngs' pass goes into touch.

3:00PM

Anthem

Danny Cipriani and Dan Robson here...

...and Chris Ashton joining in too.

2:55PM

Five minutes until kick-off

Still sunny at Twickenham. That should mean an absolutely rapid pace to things.

2:50PM

Huddling up

In the middle of that group is Barbarians skipper Juan Martin Fernandez Lobbe, who is retiring from rugby at the end of this game.

2:46PM

Eddie on Elliot

Jones has shifted Mike Brown to the left wing for this game, giving Elliot Daly a run at full-back. And there is some long-term thinking to this. Jones says Daly can make the position his own ahead of Rugby World Cup 2019.

2:41PM

Tuning up

Conditions are warm and dry...for now. Lightning is forecast for later. Here's one of England's co-captains warming up.

2:39PM

Pat Lam

The Barbarians head coach has thoroughly enjoyed working with Chris Ashton, who says the wing is a "wonderful individual".

2:34PM

Dylan Hartley

Sky have snared a very interesting pundit. Dylan Hartley says he is "not finished" with England and reveals that he is close to returning to training...he's also heading off on holiday with Chris Ashton tomorrow. That's nice.

2:32PM

Half an hour until kick-off

Eddie Jones has been speaking to Sky Sports.

2:21PM

Arrival

The players are here.

Danny Cipriani is covering 10, 12 and 15 according to Eddie Jones.

2:20PM

Teams

A reminder of the teams in full with about 40 minutes until kick-off.

Here is England's line-up...

...and this is what the Barbarians are working with:

2:14PM

"I'm clinging on"

Joe Marler was in fine form on Friday as he broached the subject of scrummaging.

Read the full piece here.

2:12PM

Chris Ashton interview

Starting at full-back for the Barbarians is a certain Chris Ashton, he of 39 England caps and 19 Test tries

Mick Cleary caught up with the ex-Saracens Toulon man this week.

2:08PM

Good afternoon

Hello and welcome to our live text commentary of the Quilter Cup fixture between England and a typically star-studded Barbarians team at Twickenham.

This game is a chance for Eddie Jones' side to tune up for the three-Test tour of South Africa and there have been some intriguing selections that could provide some clues as to the upcoming trip.

For a start, Tom Curry gets a start at openside flanker. Jones is fond of the scavenging Sale Shark, who is still just 19. This is what England's head coach said about the breakdown - a glaring problem area during the Six Nations - the other day at Pennyhill Park.