LONDON, 22 December 2003 — England won their first match since being crowned world champions when they defeated the New Zealand Barbarians 42-17 in a non-cap international at Twickenham here Saturday.

But the match was marred for Clive Woodward’s men by a broken nose sustained by stand-in captain Richard Hill who also had 13 stitches inserted into a cut above his right eye.

After going into the blood bin in the early stages, the World Cup-winning flanker had to leave the field permanently in the 55th minute after being caught by the swinging arm of Barbarians lock Troy Flavell.

Afterward Saracens back-row Hill said he was prepared to let the matter rest but England coach Clive Woodward said he might cite Flavell once he’d watched a videotape of the match.

The hastily-arranged fixture had been criticized by some English coaches unhappy at losing players on a weekend of long-planned league matches and fearful that one of their England internationals would sustain an injury in a ‘meaningless’ match.

But a patriotic Hill said: “It’s always an honor to play for your country.”

However, Woodward made clear his unhappiness that his relationship with the Premiership coaches, who had allowed their players to be released for numerous squad training sessions as well as being compelled to do without them during a World Cup falling in the middle of the English season had been jeopardized.

World Cup winning wing Ben Cohen scored two of England’s six tries with fly-half Paul Grayson, uncapped prop Matt Stevens and Gloucester flyer James Simpson-Daniel also crossing the visitors’ line with Grayson landing five goalkicks.

New Zealand Barbarians’ tries came through North Harbor lock Flavell and a late consolation score from Waikato center Keith Lowen with their other points came from the boot of Bay of Plenty fly-half Glen Jackson.

New Zealand Barbarians coach and legendary All Black wing Bryan Williams praised his scratch team’s performance which saw them just 13-10 down at half-time. The visitors’ skipper, former New Zealand captain Taine Randell, now a teammate of Hill’s at Saracens, said England’s superior fitness had been crucial.