Barbarians vs World XV: International rugby live scores, blog

It’s a game of the heavy weights with some of the greatest players in world rugby lining-up against one another as the Barbarians take on a World XV at Twickenham. Join The Roar for live updates from 11pm AEST.

The World XV are coached by legendary New Zealand coach Steve Hansen who will take on the Barbarians who are coached by the Australian mastermind Eddie Jones. The much-anticipated match is expected to take place in front of 80,000 people at the iconic Twickenham stadium in London. It is the first ever event of its kind and it is expected to deliver some memorable moments.

The sides are teeming with exciting talent and legends of the game, no one more so than Welsh and British & Irish Lions veteran Alyn Wyn Jones. Wyn Jones will captain the Baabaas and it will be a another milestone for the recently retired Welshman who has played 158 test for his country. It is a tale of the old bull and the young buck, as 24-year-old Michele Lamaro captains the World XV. The rising Italian star has been one of his country’s best and has earned the honour to lead the side from openside flanker.

They are the elite of the elite right across the board with the likes of World Cup winner Aaron Cruden on the bench for the Barbarians, as well as the likes of former South African utility back Francois Hougaard. Excitement machines like Semi Radranda, Sbu Nkosi and Tevita Li are bound to put on some razzle dazzle at Twickenham.

However, for Australians there are two players that everyone will be watching, Quade Cooper and Samu Kerevi at 10 and 12 for the Barbarians. The pair last played together against Argentina in 2022, where the pair were part of a Wallabies four game winning streak.

Many see Cooper as the one true hope to steer the Wallabies in the World Cup in Paris. Others, believe Kerevi’s power and ability to attract defenders is paramount for the Wallabies’ World Cup success.

Former Wallabies and Australian Super Rugby players are littered throughout the teams with Nick Phipps playing halfback for the World XV, while divisive superstar and sanctioned Israel Folou lines up on the wing. The second row has a strong contingent of former Queensland Reds players with Harry Hockings and Robb Simmons both donning the jerseys for the tall timber.

The biggest match-ups as far as excitement goes is Kerevi’s match-up with fellow power inside centre and former All Black Ngani Laumape. It promises to be a cataclysmic clash when those two units meet.

Fijian powerhouse Radrara is at outside centre for the World XV and is the most explosive player on the park and will only be enabling the in-form and dangerous Charles Piutau at fullback. Piutau has unseated Folou at fullback for his scintillating form for the Bristol Bears in the UK.

Prediction
Cooper and Kerevi are elite players in their own right but barely have any rugby under their belts. Metres in the legs will count for a lot when Laumape and Radradra get unleashed upon them. Both teams are stacked with talent and it will truly be a legendary moment for rugby. For Eddie Jones, it is an opportunity to go head-to-head with Steve Hansen and test is brain and for the pair to flex their brawn. Hansen is a seasoned winner and that will carry the World XV over the line.

Game Information

Venue: Twickenham Stadium, London UK.
Kick-off: 11pm AEST

Streaming: Stan Sport

Teams

Barbarians: Alex Waller, Nic Dolly, Enrique Piertto, Alyn Wyn Jones (C), Stephen Lewies, Aaron Wainwright, Kai Yamamoto, Steven Luatua, Jack Maunder, Quade Cooper, Tevita Li, Samu Kerevi, Seta Tamanivalu, Adam Radwan, Gareth Anscombe.

Replacements: Harry Thacker, Tom West, Carlu Sadie, Rob Simmons, Sione Vailanu, Francios Hougaard, Aaron Cruden, Sam Johnson.

World XV: Wyn Jones, Fraser Brown, Oli Kebble, Api Ratuniyarawa, Harry Hockings, Sebastian Negri, Michele Lamaro (C), Viliame Mata, Nick Phipps, Adam Hastings, Sbu Nkosi, Ngani Laumape, Semi Radradra Israel Folau, Charles Piutau.

Replacements: Eliot Dee, Allan Dell, Marcus Street, Niccolo Cannone, Jordi Murphy, Bryn Hall, Rhys Patchell, Kamanieli Rasaku.