Walder glad to put politics to one side

England can finally put the politics behind them at Twickenham tomorrow - and fledgling fly-half Dave Walder can't wait.  

Crisis talks between the Rugby Football Union and its players and leading clubs advanced far enough for the green light to be given for the three-Test tour to North America next month.

But first coach Clive Woodward must send his team - shorn of 18 players because of Lions calls - into battle against the Barbarians at Twickenham.

The Baa-Baas have already defeated Wales and Scotland in high scoring encounters this week and a strong side containing the likes of Pat Howard, Jonah Lomu and Josh Kronfeld are out to complete the hat-trick.

Woodward's side, though exciting on paper, do not have anything like the experience and victory cannot be assured 24 hours before departure to Toronto.

England face Canada on successive weekends before heading south to San Francisco where they will take on the United States.

And for Walder - who takes over the stand-off role from illustrious Newcastle team-mate Jonny Wilkinson - is relishing the challenge to impress before the serious work begins.

"I don't know what has been going on in terms of the RFU and the clubs," he admitted.

"We have just been trying to concentrate on the tour because really it has been out of our hands.

"Tomorrow should be a good experience playing against the likes of Lomu and the rest.

"The following tour is going to be hard and this will set us up in the right way.

"We need to get our defence right and I'm looking forward to putting in some covering tackles on Mr Lomu.

"I'll be flying in at his knees and hopefully not bouncing straight back off."

Lomu was immense at Murrayfield on Thursday, scoring four tries and handing over two more after charging over the line.

An estimated 45,000 crowd are expected to see Pat Howard make his final appearance on English soil for the foreseeable future.

Howard completed three years at Welford Road when he helped Leicester complete their Treble triumph with a Heineken Cup victory over Stade Francais in Paris last weekend.

Now he must prevent Tigers team-mates Leon Lloyd and Tim Stimpson from exhibiting their running skills in an England back division brimming with pace.

Another Leicester pair - Martin Corry and Dorian West - have been given the chance to rest their weary limbs on the bench ahead of their summer exertions.