| Barkley, who is switching from inside centre to fly-half for Saturday’s Twickenham final against the New Zealand Maoris, kick-off 4.30pm, is in no way underestimating the talent of the reigning champions but he believes England are in a position to match them on the field.
“The Maoris are very strong and have some very talented individual players,” said the 25-year-old, who has 16 caps for England. “They play with a lot of width and when they get quick ball they can be devastating. You can’t give away turnovers either as they will capitalise on it straight away but we are a young talented squad who I think can take them on in all areas.
“After our 18-3 win over an experienced Scotland A side we need to step up a gear but we know we can do that. In that game we played the conditions well and we were proud of our performance. We want to be proud again on Saturday and I think we can be. 2005, when England last won the Churchill Cup, seems a long time ago.”
On a personal level for Barkley, this season’s Churchill Cup campaign has been an ideal opportunity for the versatile back to showcase his talents after an unlucky run of injuries in 2006. With the 2007 IRB Rugby World Cup just around the corner there is of course added motivation.
He added: “I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t thinking about the World Cup. At the moment the Barclays Churchill Cup is at the forefront of my mind and for me personally I am enjoying playing for the Saxons.
“After a long run of injuries it has been a great opportunity to show what I can do. I know the England coaches take notice of what’s going on and this is, I hope, a good stepping stone for me ahead of the World Cup.”
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