It will be an examination that coach Robbie Deans will cherish, when his first Test match of 2009 is against one of the most star-studded selection sides ever seen.
When William Percy Carpmael – the man credited with the creation of the Barbarians concept – had the famous meeting in April of 1890 which formed the club, he would have had little idea that the vision would have grown to the heights it has today.
Officially, the Barbarians played the Hartlepool Rovers on the 27th December 1890, winning 9-4; the first ever match for the famous black and white hooped team.
Since then, some of the greatest players in rugby have represented the side, from the incomparable A.J.F O’Reilly, who played for the Barbarians 30 times and scored 38 tries (more than any other Barbarian), through to players such as Gerald Davies, Mike Gibson, Bill Beaumont, Phillipe Sella, Michael Lynagh, Francois Pienaar and Jonah Lomu.
And that tradition looks to be enforced by an incredible looking squad containing 775 test caps.
From the three quarters, we see an English wing combination of 2003 World Cup winners Iain Balshaw and Josh Lewsey combine with Geordan Murphy, one of the most experienced Irish fullbacks of all time.
In the midfield, plenty of hype has been raised about the selection of Sonny Bill Williams, both in regard to his return to Australia (where he walked out on the league club Canterbury Bulldogs) and his first international rugby match.
Ironically, considering the Barbarians only criteria for selection is that a player must behave themselves on and off the field, one could argue that the Toulon centre is lucky to play for the Baa-baas.
His partnership with Seilala Mapusua will represent a hard running Islander combination for the Wallabies to contend with, with the London Irish and former Highlander midfielder renowned for his strong all round game.
At number ten, former Sale Shark Luke McAlister comes up against Matt Giteau, who would be regarded as currently the best standoff in world rugby.
Much interest will be on whether the former All Blacks’ game has improved in a head to head that some say may be seen later in the Tri Nations.
Chris Whittaker, the most capped Waratah of all time and Heineken Cup winner, will play against Luke Burgess in a position where some believe the Wallabies have no dominant player.
And to cause more issues for the Wallabies, the most capped All Black scrum half of all time, Justin Marshall, is waiting on the bench.
In the loose forwards, the two Western Force rookies of Richard Brown and Matt Hodgson will combine with the brilliant George Smith to combat a truly outstanding group of back rowers.
In Rocky Elsom, Phil Waugh and Jerry Collins, as well as Serge Betson on the bench, you have four men that not only have 228 tests between them, but all four would at their prime be considered as accomplished flankers as there has ever been for their respective countries.
In the locks, equal interest will be on Chris Jack, who has left Saracens and heads to Western Province for a brief stint, before resuming his New Zealand rugby career.
Only 30 years old and with 67 tests to his name, no doubt he will be in the All Blacks radar for their lineout stocks.
Joined by Paul Tito, the inspirational Cardiff Blues and former NZ Maori captain, their presence will be enforced by England lock Martin Corry on the bench.
In the front row, former Springboks BJ Botha and Schalk Brits will combine with ex-All Blacks Greg Somerville and Clarke Dermody, as well as former French hooker Sebastion Bruno.
This will be a historic first for the Barbarians, playing the Wallabies in Australia.
On ten previous occasions they have played, the Baa-baas have tasted victory only three times; in 1948, 1958 and 1976.
Their most recent clash, on the December 3 last year at Wembley Stadium, was won by the Wallabies. Chris Jack is the only player in the Barbarians match twenty two from that corresponding fixture.
True Tah
Guest
I thought McCalister looked a lot chunkier than when he last played for the All Blacks, maybe he has a rich diet over in the UK? The Barbarians defense was hopeless, it was clear that didnt train, and it was little more than a glorified training run for the Wallabies. Plus a bunch of those guys were well passed their used-by date - Balsahw, Glen Jackson, Justin Marshall, Chris Jack - I did love Marshall's wrestlemania tackle though, dont know how Dickinson thought that was "in the spirit of the barbarians". If Sonny Bill is serious about playing for the All Blacks, then he should be leaving France ASAP and getting to play for the Chiefs or the Blues ASAP - maybe he will wait until Mortlock has retired before he runs around in super rugby.
Tahriffc
Guest
MT I agree - horses for courses one of the great advantages the AB's have is that they have options - agree that by having Luke at 12 creates space for Carter - you have two playmakers who can threaten with the pass, kick or run That's the barrier for Giteau - although I believe the introduction of Barnes is a huge benefit - better than having a crash merchant
mother teresa
Guest
JERRY/TAHRIFFIC,just read your posts and congratulate both of you for a fine analysis;spot on imo guess every game is different even when playing the same team on another ground.nonu is slightly unreliable with his penchant for big hits and losing ball on hit ups again imo. what im trying to say is carters foil can be another kicker/decision maker at 12 or alternatively a nonu type.(depending on situational factors/strategy)shame sivivatu not available for abs to compensate. however still consider giteau as good as any of them;ceteris paribus cheers.(
Tahriffc
Guest
It's a great problem for the All black Selectors to have how do you fit Nonu, Mccalister, Donald, Kahui, Taoieva, Smith, Lualua into two centre pairings Not to mention - Carter, Weepu, Donald 5/8 considerations and the Weepu, Leonard, Ellis, Cowan scrum half decision Problems - problems - problems......
Jerry
Guest
Perhaps Tahriffic, but given Nonu's effectiveness in the last 2 seasons of Super/Test rugby, I think it'd be shortchanging the team to only have him on for a quarter of the match.
Tahriffc
Guest
Jerry?MT Given we are now in an era of tactical substitutions I believe a good strategy could be starting with McCalister at 12 to help Carter set the game up in the first 60 minutes - then unleash Nonu at the back end when the game may start to open up (if anything happens to Carter you move Luke in one spot)
Tahriffc
Guest
good points Westy i think people should not get confused with the Sydney public's desire for: - matches at the SFS - seeing some points scored (after the Waratahs's season) - nostalgia The match served its purpose as a party in a bleak year - but as an annual event (or even a series as mooted by JON) - I'm not so sure you can fool some of the people some of the time, but.......................
Jerry
Guest
Mother Teresa - He's not a fulltime 10, he's a decent backup as far as filling that role. He has a lot of talent but just doesn't have the natural decision making ability required in a top flight 10 in my opinion. People often talk about 'playing whats in front of you' but often a first five simply doesn't have time to do so and must fall back on autopilot and Luke's autopilot is a split second too slow. He's always been better at 12, but at the moment Nonu is in blistering form and you simply can't overlook him. Obviously Luke plays a completely different style to Nonu and wtih him at 12 you get a very good second kicking option which the Wallabies showed the effectiveness of on Saturday with Barnes and Giteau - and a Carter/McAlister combo provides a left boot/right boot option which is very effective. It's a bit of a conundrum, Nonu is more effective at 12 than 13 and more effective when in combination with Conrad. Do the selectors look to switch him to 13 or look at playing a completely different style if and when Luke is on at 12? Hard call, and luckily not mine to make.
westy
Guest
Question how many will go back to see the Barbarians play again in Sydney?
westy
Guest
This was not NOT a good game of rugby. The crowd was good but do not confuse the two. We finally get our product on FTA and the opposition is woeful. Could someone get channel 7 on second thoughts anyone but channel 7 to play the Crusaders v Bulls semi on FTA . We have the product but then i have to put up "the great spectacle" it was when it was patently not. The Barbarians defensive pattern was to say the least very very ordinary. I have saved my hard earned dosh and I am going to the next SOO and the All Black test . Different games but at least they are serious and passionate. This was not a good FTA promotion and it will be worse if Italy is as bad as i suspect.
mother teresa
Guest
JERRY,GOT NO PROBLEM WITH MCALISTER BUT WHAT POSITION AND IS COMBO IMPORTANT TO YOU
fred
Guest
HEMJAY;; please dont call justin champ for he is deluded enough to believe it. justin went from describing the bb game as a team choc full of internationals to an historic promo game used to build combos that MT was on about. .inconceivable
Hemjay
Guest
Justin there's no need for me to twist your words your doing a fine job of that yourself champ
mother teresa
Guest
tahriffic,youre good mate;liked the training drill bit. yes the almighty dollar and the transparency{to some)of the baabaas fiasco.its really an insult to aust rugby followers isnt it. im not blaming deans tho
Tahriffc
Guest
The sad thing is that in a quest for the almighty $ the true ethos and values of the Baa Baas has been compromised I guess others will argue that it progress
mother teresa
Guest
"and you think i am not too smart.that is funny" no thats sad
Tahriffc
Guest
Justin I think you have become very excited about a training drill Outside of Jerry Collins, Jack and Macallister none of those players have been in serious consideration for test duties since the 2003 World Cup See the match for what it was - a publicity stunt - not a top class international. In terms of the Baa Baa spirit - these games had always been played at the END of a tour and the Baa Baas full of current internationals (i.e. currently in their respective teamms) with the game at the end of the tour - it was a genuine chance for the best players to relax and play expansive rugby THIS WAS NOT - it was players well past their prime - playing an international team with too much on the line (cementing places and getting combinations for forthcoming matches) the game was played to collect money and nothing else!
fred
Guest
JERRY,quite agree with your assessment you have justin on the ropes.MT your initial post was accurate how could the fox boys get it so wrong?
Jerry
Guest
Justin - dunno about 'most'. Of the ex AB's yesterday, 2 would be sure selections (McAlister and Sommerville), one is an outside possibility (Jack but he was on the slide even before he left) and the other 4 wouldn't.
mother teresa
Guest
JUSTIN,. what i said was the baabaas were overrated and no contest for australia .correct france invariably "dont travel well" ;translation: the aru have been" castigating the northern hemisphere countries for many years for sending down substandard teams."you plead my case. correct the french invariably have injuries and have top14 finals and are not focused on touring down under.pity but correct italy the easybeats (and thats not a pop band justin)wallabies should canter through.correct if you understand the french ,castigation doesnt work..rwc winners ;non,non monsieur.correct aru must be slow learners not to comprehend this fact.correct you take poetic licence and modify your stance.correct you use emotional peurile remarks thru frustration.you should learn to control yourseif .correct you disagree with other rational posters;everyone else is deluded and you alone are perceptively gifted.correct? personally i would prefer to watch aust play aust B or pacific island teams. rugby the great INTERNATIONAL game ;the NRL AND AFL are really jealous of us.correct. justin ,name the baabaa players that will fly into their national teams. be rational and smart mate