New Zealand’s Rugby World Cup-winner Brad Thorn will captain the Barbarians in their non-cap international against England at Twickenham on Sunday.
The team announced Saturday by Barbarians coach Robbie Deans, himself a former All Blacks fullback, showed 11 changes to the side that edged out Ireland 22-21 at Limerick’s Thomond Park on Thursday.
Veteran lock Thorn, 40, a World Cup winner on home soil in 2011, will form a new second-row partnership with Samu Manoa in a starting line-up that totals 388 international caps from seven different nations.
Australia flanker George Smith, who will join Premiership side Wasps next season, is in the Barbarians’ back-row.
Harlequins and England wing Ugo Monye is now set to makes his final appearance in the professional game against his former international teammates.
The Barbarians, rugby union’s most prestigious invitational side, are celebrating their 125th anniversary this season.
They have stayed true to their attacking traditions by including the leading try-scorers in both France’s Top 14 and England’s Premiership in the shape of Toulon wing David Smith and Exeter No.8 Thomas Waldrom.
“It’s a privilege to lead the Barbarians against England at Twickenham,” said Thorn, who has been appearing for Premiership side Leicester this season.
“Playing for the club is an honour and the boys did the shirt proud with the commitment and skill they showed to beat a good Ireland team earlier in the week.”
Sunday’s match marks the start of England’s build-up to a World Cup which gets underway when they face Fiji at Twickenham on September 18
“We know England have some exciting talent in their side with plenty to play for in the build-up to the World Cup but we have high standards and want to give them a real test,” said Thorn.
Crash Ball2
Guest
Smith's arms are clearly out. He is crouching to brace for contact with a bloke that stands 3 inches taller than him. Had Herring not ducked his head into the tackle it would have hit him square in the chest. Unfortunate. But not Smith's fault. And certainly not illegal. Great shot. One of several he made in a 30 minute sortie. And the type the Wallabies could use slightly more often.
Elk
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He shouldered the irish hooker in the head for his first hit and should have gone to the bin. But yes did have a terrific game after that professional foul.
Michael Scott
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According to Saturday's (30/5) Rugby HQ, both Barbarians games would be broadcast on Fox Sports. Let's hope Foxtel follows up on that representation to its loyal customers.
atlas
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From bbc sport, where players don't have first names England XV: Tait (Leicester Tigers); Wade (Wasps), Daly (Wasps), Slade (Exeter Chiefs), Yarde (Harlequins); Cipriani (Sale Sharks), Dickson (Northampton Saints, capt); Mullan (Wasps), Cowan-Dickie (Exeter Chiefs), Brookes (Newcastle Falcons); Slater (Leicester Tigers), Launchbury (Wasps); Wilson (Newcastle Falcons), Clifford (Harlequins), Beaumont (Sale Sharks). Replacements: Taylor (Sale Sharks), Waller (Northampton Saints), Denman (Northampton Saints), Gaskell (Wasps), Fisher (Northampton Saints), Chudley (Exeter Chiefs), Geraghty (London Irish), Lewington (London Irish) Barbarians XV: Aplon (Grenoble & South Africa); Smith (Toulon), Rokocoko (Bayonne & New Zealand), Olivier (Montpellier & South Africa), Monye (Harlequins & England); Pisi (Suntory Sungoliath & Samoa); Cubelli (Belgrano Ath & Argentina); Taumoepeau (Castres & New Zealand), Ward (Harlequins), Diaz (Pampas & Argentina); Manoa (Northampton Saints and USA), Thorn (Leicester Tigers & New Zealand, capt); Whitelock (Panasonic Wild Knights & New Zealand), Smith (Lyon & Australia), Waldrom (Exeter Chiefs & England). Replacements: Fourie (Lyon), Tejerizo (Tucuman & Argentina), Jones (Cardiff Blues & Wales), Hines (Sale Sharks & Scotland), Matera (Pampas & Argentina), Pienaar (Ulster & South Africa), Brett (Lyon), Fujita (Panasonic Wild Knights & Japan)
Crash Ball2
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Can't find a listing currently but I'll post again if I locate it.
Cynical Play
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Do you know if Foxtel is showing the England game?
Crash Ball2
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CURglzkoZKs
Crash Ball2
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http://www.coventrytelegraph.net/sport/rugby/wasps-one-hell-player-reactions-9353124
Crash Ball2
Guest
I was happily surprised to find this last match televised on Fox yesterday. And just as night follows day, Deans first substitution deploys George Smith at the 50 minute mark and GS absolutely dominates proceedings from herein. With his first hard shouldered tackle, Smith sends an Irish front rower back to the bleachers and in his patented gravity-defying manner, beats the ensuing clean out and somehow emerges with the pill - the first of several massive, momentum changing defensive hits behind the Irish gainline. In his supreme cameo, Smith torments the first and second five, snaffles more seed, punches holes through the middle of the pitch, links with the backline and does all the rest of the unseen heavy breakdown and collision work saving possession, adding balance and weight at the right times and the right areas of the rolling maul defence, supporting the Baa Baas ball carriers and generally George Smith'ing the living **** out of the championship moments of this match. Irish crowd is stunned, commentators are effusive, Wasps supporters are overjoyed. Openside. 8. Fullback. Who cares? Michael Cheika, time to bring back George Smith.