England v Barbarians, Twickenham
Tindall starts for Barbarians
ESPN Staff
May 23, 2012
England's Mike Tindall reflects on the game, Rugby World Cup, England v Argentina, Rugby World Cup, Otago Stadium, Dunedin, New Zealand, September 10, 2011
Mike Tindall will start at inside centre against England on Sunday © Getty Images
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Players/Officials: Iain Balshaw | Paul Sackey | Mike Tindall
Tournaments/Tours: England tour
Teams: Barbarians | England

Former England internationals Paul Sackey, Mike Tindall and Iain Balshaw have all been named in the starting line up for the Barbarians ahead of their match with Stuart Lancaster's side at Twickenham on Sunday.

Balshaw played an integral part in Biarritz's Amlin Challenge Cup winning side and has been given the nod on the wing with Stade Francais' Sackey starting on the opposite flank. But it is Tindall's inclusion that will perhaps get the most interest.

Tindall has been exiled from the England squad ever since the infamous 2011 World Cup which saw him take the headlines for all the wrong reasons amid suggestions of ill-discipline off the field. But he has been given the chance to show Lancaster what he's made of on Sunday and also potential suitors with Tindall still yet to announce where he will play rugby next season with his current deal at Gloucester at an end.

Elsewhere in the side, former Springboks captain John Smit skippers the team with coach John Kirwan saying: "We have several natural leaders in the squad but with John's track record of captaincy at the highest levels of the game he was the obvious choice to lead us on this tour."

There are also three members of the World Cup winning All Blacks side featuring. Mils Muliaina starts at fullback with Stephen Donald at fly-half and John Afoa in the front-row.

Barbarians team:

Mils Muliaina; Paul Sackey, Casey Laulala, Mike Tindall, Iain Balshaw; Stephen Donald, Rory Lawson; Neemia Tialata, John Smit (captain), John Afoa, Mark Chisholm, Anton van Zyl, Ernst Joubert, Johnnie Beattie, Akapusi Qera

Replacements: Benoit August, Duncan Jones, Pelu Taele, Raphael Lakafia, Jerome Fillol, Felipe Contepomi, Sailosi Tagicakibau

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