Four Wallabies named in Barbarians line-up
Australia will supply four players for the Barbarians side that will face the All Blacks at Twickenham on Saturday.
Winger Drew Mitchell, fly-half Matt Giteau, back-row George Smith and Wallabies captain Rocky Elsom have all been named in the starting line-up, with scrum-half Will Genia and hooker Stephen Moore named on the replacements’ bench.
New Zealand skipper Richie McCaw, recently crowned the IRB 2009 world player of the year, and Cory Jane – back in his first-choice position of full-back – are the only two survivors from the All Blacks team that beat France 39-12 in Marseille last weekend.
And the Twickenham crowd won’t have a second chance to see Dan Carter, who starred in New Zealand’s November win over England, after coach Graham Henry left the fly-half out of his 22-man squad.
Instead, Stephen Donald will run-on at No 10 for his first start of the tour with prop John Afoa also making his first start against a star-studded Barbarians side that also features All Black wing Joe Rokocoko.
New Zealand have yet to lose on this tour, having defeated Australia (in Tokyo), Wales, Italy, England and France.
Of New Zealand’s four debutants on this tour three – Zac Guildford, Ben Smith and Tamati Ellison – will start while Mike Delany is on the bench.
The Barbarians re captained by South Africa World Cup-winning second row Victor Matfield and features several of his fellow Springboks in star wing Bryan Habana, Jacques Fourie, Fourie du Preez and Bismarck du Plessis.
The starting team, which was traditionally composed of players from the Britain and Ireland, features just three northern hemisphere names in Wales centre Jamie Roberts and Italian forwards Carlo del Fava and Salvatore Perugini.
Barbarians coach Nick Mallett, currently in charge of Italy, said: “We have the benefit of a full week together ahead of the match.
“Knowing the talent that has been assembled among the 22 players, we expect to be very competitive and give the All Blacks and the Twickenham crowd a real taste of Barbarian rugby at its best,” the former South Africa coach added.
Barbarians
Drew Mitchell (AUS); Joe Rokocoko (NZL), Jacques Fourie (RSA), Jamie Roberts (WAL), Bryan Habana (RSA); Matt Giteau (AUS), Fourie du Preez (RSA); George Smith (AUS), Schalk Burger (RSA), Rocky Elsom (AUS); Victor Matfield (RSA, capt), Carlo del Fava (ITA); WP Nel (RSA/uncappped); Bismarck du Plessis (RSA), Salvatore Perugini (ITA)
Reps: Stephen Moore (AUS), Tenai Mtawarira (RSA), Quintin Geldenhuys (ITA), Andy Powell (WAL), Will Genia (AUS), Morne Steyn (RSA), Leigh Halfpenny (WAL)
New Zealand
Cory Jane; Zac Guildford, Tamati Ellison, Luke McAllister, Ben Smith; Stephen Donald, Brendon Leonard; Rodney So’oialo, Richie McCaw (capt), Liam Messam; Anthony Boric, Jason Eaton; John Afoa, Corey Flynn, Wyatt Crockett
Replacements: Andrew Hore, Neemia Tialata, Adam Thomson, Tanerau Latimer, Jimmy Cowan, Mike Delany, Sitiveni Sivivatu
© AFP 2012
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Stash said | December 3rd 2009 @ 11:54am | Report comment
Stephen Donald!!… well he obviously deserves his spot after his sterling performances in the black jersey.
Sarcasm aside… probably wise choice from Henry to leave McCaw in….the ABs are going to need some serious leadership against this classy Baba side… Holy Cow that’s a good side!!
This should be a quality game… can we actually get to see it on TV or the net?
Dan said | December 3rd 2009 @ 6:07pm | Report comment
Rococoko and Habana on the wings? Giteau and du Preez as the halves? Damn… that’s not a bad side!
Ora said | December 3rd 2009 @ 7:03pm | Report comment
Great BaaBaa side it will be interesting to see how the fill ins go for the ABs,
This is more like NZ A against a world 15 who look very good on paper
Ian Noble said | December 3rd 2009 @ 10:53pm | Report comment
Outside the International window, England players are not released by their clubs.
Some very exciting combinations and should be very interesting to see how they perform. One of the major bye products of a Baa-Baas squad is that many of these players have never played together or even talked to each other and yet in the squad environment, they room together, eat together, drink together etc for over a week. Judging from past comments they get more enjoyment out of mixing as squad when previously they would have knocked nine bells out of each other and many consider it an honour to be invited.
jus de couchon said | December 4th 2009 @ 2:02am | Report comment
Cant wait. I will be there. Slightly worried to hear Nick Mallet , the Ba Bas coach , say they have a week to prepare Isnt that against the Ba Bas ethic?
Jameswm said | December 4th 2009 @ 8:29am | Report comment
Drew Mitchell at fullback? Who selected him? Why not AAC?