Barkley in next bend of rapid learning curve

Olly Barkley has won an England call, before he has even played a senior game at club level. The 19-year-old Bath stand-off will start for Clive Woodward's dirt-trackers against British Columbia at the University sports ground here today, almost a month since he last appeared in a match of any description.

Barkley will partner Leeds' Scott Benton at half-back, with another Headingley man, lock Tom Palmer, also included despite not having played a Premiership game.

Woodward highlighted the captain Alex Sanderson, his former Sale team-mate David Rees and the Gloucester prop Trevor Woodman, who have most to gain from an impressive performance when he comes to select his team for the second Test against Canada in Burnaby on Saturday.

He has kept the same bench as the one he used in Markham last weekend, hinting that all his squad will see some meaningful action before the end of the tour. But it is the inclusion of Barkley which will cause most interest, with Woodward claiming he has no problems pitching him in against what is likely to be an experienced home side and has no interest in easing him through the early stages of his career.

"We threw Jonny Wilkinson in at the deep end and I have no qualms about what we are asking Olly to do," Woodward said. "If they are good enough, you should give them a game and I have no doubts about his ability."