Australia’s Matt Giteau will captain a Barbarians side dominated by Wallabies and All Blacks in their match against world champions South Africa at Twickenham on Saturday.
Giteau, overlooked at centre by Australia in favour of Berrick Barnes for the recent Test wins against Italy and France, will start at fly-half and have Wallaby halfback Will Genia alongside him.
“This is a great honour and I am deeply grateful to the Barbarians committee for the confidence they have shown in me,” said Giteau, a member of Barbarian sides that have previously beaten both the Springboks and New Zealand.
Fullback James O’Connor, winger Drew Mitchell, centre Adam Ashley-Cooper and hooker Stephen Moore complete the list of six Wallabies in a Barbarians starting side where the backline is an all trans-Tasman affair.
There are five All Blacks in winger Joe Rokocoko, centre Ma’a Nonu and forwards Rodney So’oialo, Chris Jack and Neemia Tialata.
The Barbarians, by tradition, select at least one uncapped player in their 1st XV.
But for this match they have gone for two, with Waikato’s Colin Bourke at No.8 and Stormers captain and lock Anton van Zyl up against his compatriots in what will be the Springboks’ final match of 2010.
Meanwhile, Keven Mealamu, Daniel Braid and Stephen Donald, all members of the New Zealand squad that completed a grand slam with a 37-25 victory over Wales in Cardiff last weekend, are on the bench.
Historically, the Barbarians have relied for the bulk of their side on players from England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales.
However, Cardiff and Wales flanker Martyn Williams is the only British Isles-based player in the starting XV, with Italy prop Salvatore Perugini the only other European.
Northern hemisphere teams have become increasingly reluctant to let their players appear in a mid-season non-cap fixture that follows hot on the heels of the November international program, for which clubs are obliged to release players under International Rugby Board regulations.
For South Africa, who beat England 21-11 at Twickenham last week, this match will round off a tour that featured wins over Ireland and Wales but also a shock 21-17 loss to Scotland.
The Barbarians, who have no ground of their own and whose players are obliged to use their club or international socks, are arguably rugby union’s most famous invitational side.
Their most celebrated victory was when they beat the All Blacks 23-11 in Cardiff in 1973.
That match featured a length-of-the-field move crowned by an opening try from Wales scrum-half Gareth Edwards that is still widely regarded as one of the greatest scores in rugby union history.
South Africa are due to name their side on Wednesday.
Barbarians:
James O’Connor (AUS); Joe Rococoko (NZL), Drew Mitchell (AUS), Adam Ashley-Cooper (AUS), Ma’a Nonu (NZL); Matt Giteau (AUS, capt), Will Genia (AUS); Colin Bourke (Chiefs/NZL), Martyn Williams (WAL), Rodney So’oialo (NZL); Chris Jack (NZL), Anton van Zyl (Stormers/RSA); Neemia Tialata (NZL), Stephen Moore (AUS), Salvatore Perugini (ITA)Replacements: Keven Mealamu (NZL), John Yapp (WAL), Quintin Geldenhuys (ITA), Daniel Braid (NZL), Andy Ellis (NZL), Stephen Donald (NZL), Seru Rabeni (FIJ)
JohnB
Guest
They don't get asked to and I'm not saying the local clubs should just bend over and provide their players. The question still stands - where does the money go? If it goes into rugby development around the world, or a significant share goes to the tri-nations country that is playing (so each of the 3 benefits in rotation), or there is some other quid pro quo, ok. But if that is not how it works and essentially no local players play in the game, should any great proportion of the game's proceeds stay locally (beyond a fee for use of the ground, advertising and booking services etc)?
Blinky Bill of Bellingen
Guest
As I was unable to watch the game I'm wondering how our Mr. Gits got on. Assuming he played at 10, did he manage to fire-up the back line, cleverly mix his options, show us a nice step, cameo a slick new long 'Cooper-ish-like' cut out pass with pin point accuracy that sent the man through the gap? Or was it a bunch of talent in black & white stripes jerseys and odd coloured sox just having a good old time of it against a not so good Sth African B team?
Derm
Roar Guru
So would Super 15 teams release their star players to play in the Barbarians team outside the test windows of November and June when they've got matches on the same weekend?
JohnB
Guest
Sad in some ways that it comes to this, but (given the local clubs won't release their players for this game) you have to ask - who gets the money from it? If the local clubs don't want to riske their players, how come, at the end of a long long season, and coming into a world cup year, Aust and NZ will? This is part of Sth Africa's tour so it would be covered by their tour agreement, and I assume the individual players are making a reasonable sum out of it - but who gets the rest? Or is there some agreement under which all 3 SANZAR countries will make their players available for Barbarians games involving one of them?
Mungehead
Guest
Is this some kind of religious thing, Poki?
Poki
Guest
mudhead they all samoan i mean %100 samoan, and they play for allblacks. u know u can take the man out of samoa but u can't take the samoan out of them. PURE and SiMPLE
Ufa
Guest
agreed pot-hale
Mungehead
Guest
No way mate, you guys nurtured him, trained him and boosted him to his full potential. Now give him the love he deserves from his fellow Aussies, lol
sage
Guest
Bloody oath I like to think of Russ as a Kiwi. He's all yours cous
Mick Gold Coast QLD
Roar Guru
Mungehead turns to umpire and asks, quietly, confidently "How was that, sir?"
Winston
Guest
If that Anzac back line clicks it will be pretty awesome. Its a shame we don't get to see this type of thing more often.
Oli
Guest
Hopefully Holmes will get some good game time though, because i think he has the potential to be better then Burgess.
Blinky Bill of Bellingen
Guest
Well said muddy. Gits deserves a pat on the back for being selected as Skipper. Good on him! On Gits I'm really hoping that he uses this game to start to rethink his play a bit more and during the break mull over it. I saw some good signs when he came on against France & I'd love to see him rediscover himself. I guess my main concern is that he will do well at 10 for the Baa Baas and the entire thing will start-up again.
Blinky Bill of Bellingen
Guest
Yep, it's got a good look to it hasn't it? All we now is a coach that's got a game plan to make the most of what he's got at his disposal. Dropping that kick as first option idea would be a step in the right direction. I've liked what I've seen of Barnsey at Uni & the Wallabies with ball in hand. Hopefully Hickey has been watching too. JS - I would never sledge TC. He does enough of that for both us. ;)
Mungehead
Guest
And So'oialo's family moved to NZ when he was five. Bit of a stretch to call him Samoan. Or do you like to think of Russel Crowe as a New Zealander?
Derm
Roar Guru
More like rugby needs a break from McCaw. It's exhausted. ;)
jameswm
Guest
god alone knows what Hickey will do, but my backline would be: 9. Burgo (Josh Holmes on bench) 10. Halangahu - steady 5/8, can kick, pass and step, and very good defender 11. Mitchell - no brainer 12. Barnes (Carter on the bench - sledge TC all you want but he is a reliable player) 13. Horne, but he didn't come on this year as I'd hoped. I'm not sure about Sidey either 14. Turner, no brainer 15. Kurtley, no brainer What a back 3, and you have a dual playmaker 10-12, both of whom can pass, run straight, kick and tackle.
Mungehead
Guest
Nonu was born in Wellington, Tialata in Lower Hutt, and Mealamu in Tokoroa.
Blinky Bill of Bellingen
Guest
I agree JS. Kurtley is excelling at 15. Too early for me to say he's the world's best, but he's red hot at the moment that's for sure. Injury is probably the biggy and if that happens I would hope that the selectors would not return AAC to FB as to me he's just finding himself at OC (maybe even 'the best payer in the world in his position'). ;) Instead Gits seems to fill the bill and there's less disruption to the team. Speaking of consistency I'll be quite interested to see who Hickey selects for 15 with the Tahs & where he plays Barnes.
sixo_clock
Roar Guru
Just a tad too small? maybe,