Springbok Ollie Le Roux, who played his part in Leinster’s Magners League-winning season, has been included, along with five other South Africans, in the Barbarians team for Tuesday’s friendly match against Ireland at Gloucester’s Kingsholm ground.
Le Roux is part of a Southern Hemisphere-dominated Barbarians team, which will be captained by Australian centre Morgan Turinui.
The prop is joined by fellow countrymen Jaco Pretorius, Michael Claassens, Pedrie Wannenburg, Ross Skeate and Cobus Visagie in the Baa-baas line-up.
Wallaby legend Stephen Larkham will don the No.10 jersey for the invitational side, while there are six English-based players in the line-up including Gloucester and England wing Lesley Vainikolo.
The Baa-baas are being coached by Cardiff Blues director of rugby David Young. They beat Belgium in their tour opener on Saturday, winning 84-10, with former Welsh captain Gareth Thomas scoring four tries.
For Tuesday’s encounter with Ireland there could be the surprise inclusion of New Zealand flank Jerry Collins on the Baa-baas’ replacements bench.
It has just been announced that the 27-year-old has been given an early release from his New Zealand Rugby Union (NZRU) contract so a move to Europe could possibly be on the cards for him.
The Barbarians have played Ireland on two previous occasions, winning the Peace International 70-38 in Dublin in 1996 and, four years later, winning 31-30.
Teams:
Babarians: 15 Peter Hewat, 14 Sosene Anesi, 13 Morgan Turinui (captain), 12 Jaco Pretorius, 11 Lesley Vainikolo, 10 Stephen Larkham, 9 Michael Claassens, 8 Pedrie Wannenburg, 7 David Croft, 6 Craig Newby, 5 Ross Skeate, 4 Kris Chesney, 3 Cobus Visagie, 2 Sebastien Bruno, 1 Ollie Le Roux .
Replacements: 16 Mark Regan, 17 Patrice Collazo, 18 Santiago Dellape, 19 Mitchell Chapman/Jerry Collins, 20 Andy Gomarsall, 21 Glen Jackson, 22 Tyrone Smith/Seilala Mapusua.
Ireland: 15 Rob Kearney, 14 Shane Horgan, 13 Brian O’Driscoll (captain), 12 Luke Fitzgerald, 11 Tommy Bowe, 10 Paddy Wallace, 9 Isaac Boss, 8 Jamie Heaslip, 7 Shane Jennings, 6 Stephen Ferris, 5 Malcolm O’Kelly, 4 Bob Casey, 3 Mike Ross, 2 Rory Best, 1 Bryan Young.
Replacements: 16 Bernard Jackman, 17 Tom Court, 18 Ryan Caldwell, 19 Neil Best, 20 Frank Murphy, 21 Jonathan Sexton, 22 Girvan Dempsey.
Date: Tuesday, May 27
Venue: Kingsholm, Gloucester
Kick-off: 19.45 (18.45 GMT)
Referee: Andrew Small (England)
Touch judges: Chris White (England), Tony Spreadbury (England)
Television match official: Matt Peters (England), Geoff Warren (England)
Tweet
Claasens has had a good season at Bath.
And it’s not being shown on any of the Sport channels available here. 👿
@KSA Shark © (Comment 1) : Very good. One of their star players. Claasens & de Kock both had very good seasons in the UK.
@KSA Shark © (Comment 2) : Really? Fortunately it’s on Sky.
strong team
@racheltjiedebeer (Comment 4) :
I have Showsport, SuperSport, ESPN, FOXSport and none of them are showing it. 👿
I watched the Belgium match and the forwards will have to do a damn side better than they did against 27th ranked Belgium if they want to beat the English. There were a couple of scrums that they took a few steps backwards to the Black Devils.
The backline easily outplayed their Belgian counterparts, who just couldn’t adapt defensively to the Barbarians style of throwing the ball wide.
Sorry, If they want to beat the Irish 😳
So who’s doing updates tonight then 😉
@KSA Shark © (Comment 9) :
KSA… if I get my daughters to bed early enough I will give it a try.
cool 😎
Why in the world will they pick Jaco Pretorius!???!
@KSA Shark © (Comment 11) :
Will be around to help with scores soon.
cool.
Will be watcing a bit of TV. on this side, Not rugby though 🙄 😉
Bar 0 – 7 IRE
not sure who scored. but they just knocked on right on the line to get a second try.
Bar 0 – 10 IRE
Ireland scrum 142 stone Barbarians 137 stone.
But Ollie and Cobus just scrummed them big time!
This seems like it is gonna be one way traffic. 🙁
@Superwors (Comment 18) :
Not an easy combo that. 😳
Penalty – Bar in at the side.
Can finally sit down and watch rugby after a lost ‘blankie’ incident!
Horgan scores 0 – 15
@Superwors (Comment 22) :
blankie 😆 Mine each have a “holding nappy” 😆 (Your standard glodina towel Nappy from RSA)
😆
My 5 year old has the pram blanket she had from birth.
Bar 0 – 17 IRE
Claasens gave ireland an intercept from 5 metres from the ireland line, Horgan scores again.
Bar 0 – 24 IRE
The good thing with the holding nappy is that it doesn’t have to be a specific one. Have a whole pile in the cupboard. just take one out as needed. usually before bed and then it goes in the wash in the am. 🙂
@Superwors (Comment 27) :
that must be with about 25min on the clock 😯
Unfortunately ours is one of a kind, we had 3 to start with but the others have been lost, so we’ll be in sh!t street if we lose the last one. Mothercare don’t sell them anymore.
27 minutes now.
Ollie has a run, takes 3 leprechauns to tackle him.
Turinui does an Olivier and passes to the linesman.
@Superwors (Comment 33) :
He (Turinui) was a bit of a let down in the S14
The commentators reckon he had a blinder in the S14 – phuqwits! Bet they didn’t watch a game.
@Superwors (Comment 35) : 😀
Bar 7 – 24 IRE
Newby scored but being stretchered off… neck apparently.
@Superwors (Comment 38) : fook not good
Back on the field for 2nd half. No news on Newby’s neck. Didn’t look too bad, just think they are being cautious.
Ireland playing the better Baa-baa style rugby.
Barbarians making lots of unforced errors.
@racheltjiedebeer (Comment 41) :
sort of like beating them at their own game? 😉
@KSA Shark © (Comment 43) : Exactly. 😐
@racheltjiedebeer (Comment 41) :
For sure! Barbarians looking very rusty!
Ireland seem serious about going for the win.
Racheltjie, just have to clear something up…. are you a bloke or a bird?
@Superwors (Comment 45) : Think the Belgians might have given them a false sense of their ability.
@Superwors (Comment 47) : Bloke, straight as an arrow. 😀
Ireland going for posts. 👿 Crowd not happy.
@racheltjiedebeer (Comment 48) :
I think you are right. But these are seasoned players and should never be caught off guard!
That arrow looks a bit bent if that’s you in the picture!
😆
Barbarians certainly not going flat out. 👿
Bar 7 – 32 IRE before conversion. 11 scored, not sure of his name.
Not very good support or defence.
Bar 7 – 34 IRE
Wannenburg not doing too badly.
@racheltjiedebeer (Comment 57) :
Pity there was no support when he put the ball behind him….
Wannenburg scores!
wannenburg scores
I’m sure Ollie & Visagie were subbed. But they are on the field now. 😕
Punches thrown. 😯
Not the first time.
Ireland number 7 punched Visagie earlier, emerges from bottom of ruck with bloody nose/top lip. 🙄
39-14 btw.
Thanks for doing the scoring Racheltjie, been having hassles with the kids.
@Superwors (Comment 66) : No worries wors. I aim to please.
Ireland win 39-14.
I’m off. Cheerio Wors & who ever else is out there.
@racheltjiedebeer (Comment 69) :
Racheltjie, you live in the UK innit?
Thanks for this guys.
I fell asleep. 😳 (showing my age)