Robinson names side for Baa-baas

England coach Andy Robinson has named his side for Sunday's encounter withe the Barbarians at Twickenham, handing Mike Catt a start alongside Mathew Tait in midfield.

The match-day 22 contains 15 of the squad to tour Australia, six from the England 'A' (Saxons) party that will contest the Churchill Cup, and England Under-21 loose forward James Haskell.

Catt, who was voted Guinness Premiership player of the season, last started an England home game against South Africa in November of 2001.

The London Irish centre will line up alongside Mark van Gisbergen is awarded his first start in an England jersey - albeit in a non-cap fixture - at fullback.

The side is captained by Worcester's Pat Sanderson who starts at No.8 despite the selection of Gloucester's James Forrester who slots in on the blindside.

Sanderson's selection at the base of the scrum could be an indication of how Robinson plans to utilise his skipper on next month's Test tour of Australia when he will be without both Lawrence Dallaglio and Martin Corry.

Robinson is also without his Leicester and Sale contingent as they prepare for Saturday's Premiership Final.

He has supplemented the squad for Sunday's game with players from the Saxons squad - Forrester gets a run as does Bath tyro James Hudson who comes into the second row.

Iain Balshaw and James Simpson-Daniel start on the wings with Olly Barkley, who missed the Six Nations through injury, selected to start at fly-half alongside scrum-half Peter Richards.

"I am excited about the side we have selected," said Robinson.

"There is a good blend of experienced internationals such as Iain Balshaw and Mike Catt, as well as guys we are looking to develop through the Churchill Cup like James Hudson and James Forrester.

"Playing a strong Barbarians side will be an ideal test before we go to Australia and the Saxons to Canada and I am confident that, ably led by Pat Sanderson, they can win on Sunday."

Catt, 34, last pulled on an England shirt in the 51-15 Test defeat to Australia in 2004 but has been instrumental in London Irish's successful season.

Robinson recalled Catt after two years in the international wilderness because he believes the 34-year-old can play a mentoring role to the youngsters in England's touring squad.

It will be interesting to see how effectively Catt links up with Tait in the England midfield.

"By bringing the new players in we have, it was important to have a player in that could work with them," said Robinson, when announcing his tour squad 10 days ago.

"The key for me is that Mike Catt can translate to the younger players the type of game we are looking to play over there.

"The players can bounce ideas off him and chat to him. As he has shown with London Irish this year.

"The players can play around him and have that confidence to play with him."

England: 15 Mark Van Gisbergen (London Wasps), 14 James Simpson-Daniel (Gloucester), 13 Mathew Tait (Newcastle Falcons), 12 Mike Catt (London Irish), 11 Iain Balshaw (Leeds Tykes), 10 Olly Barkley (Bath), 9 Peter Richards (Gloucester), 8 Pat Sanderson (Worcester Warriors, captain), 7 Michael Lipman (Bath), 6 James Forrester (Gloucester), 5 Alex Brown (Gloucester), 4 James Hudson (Bath), 3 Duncan Bell (Bath), 2 Lee Mears (Bath), 1 Tim Payne (London Wasps).
Replacements: 16 David Paice (London Irish), 17 David Barnes (Bath), 18 Kieran Roche (London Irish), 19 James Haskell (London Wasps), 20 Scott Bemand (Leicester Tigers), 21 Stuart Abbott (London Wasps), 22 Delon Armitage (London Irish).

Date: Sunday, May 28
Kick-off: 15:00 (14:00 GMT)
Venue: Twickenham
Referee: Donal Courtney (Ireland)
Touch judges: Alain Rolland, George Clancy (both Ireland)
Assessor: Dougie Kerr