Don’t know about you guys, but my mouth is starting to water at the prospect of the Barbarians-Australia game on Wednesday night. With the old firm of Jake White and Eddie Jones at the helm, expect the men in black and white to put in a masterful showing against the Wallabies.
The Baabaas really have assembled a veritable world squad and there are going to be some incredibly exciting combinations all over the park. A loose trio featuring both Schalk Burger and Richie McCaw, anyone? Add Jerry Collins at number 8, with the exciting Nick Koster as an impact sub and there are sure to be fireworks. The squad is literally brimming with talent, with the front row about the only place without a raft of real stars.
Expect John Smit to captain the side from hooker, considering who the coach is, with Census Johnston and Patrice Collazo on either side. Chris Jack and Bakkies Botha will probably be the starting locks – an all-star combo if ever there was one, even though Jack might be a little past his prime. Versatile Federico Pucciariello will be the prop replacement, since he’s comfortable on either side, with Englishman Mark Regan and our own Joe Muller serving as the other tight forward replacements.
I’d be very keen to see Muller and Botha playing as a pair, so let’s hope we see that combination at some stage during the game.
I’m not sure exactly how fit Fourie du Preez actually is at this stage, but since he’s still named in the squad, I’d expect him to start at scrumhalf with George Gregan on the bench. Either way, you have a linkman with oodles of international experience directing traffic from the base of the scrum. Frans Steyn should probably be at flyhalf, since he’s about the only recognised pivot in the squad. Jean de Villiers is a shoe-in at 12 and England’s Ollie Smith will probably get the nod at outside centre, although kiwi Rico Gear could also start.
Percy Montgomery will be at fullback and it’s anyone’s guess how the coaches will decide which pair out of Bryan Habana, Shane Williams and Joe Rococoko will start.
Here’s how I see the team lining up:
Probable Barbarians 22:
15 Montgomery, 14 Williams, 13 Smith, 12 de Villiers, 11 Habana, 10 Steyn, 9 du Preez
8 Collins, 7 Burger, 6 McCaw, 5 Jack, 4 Botha, 3 Johnston, 2 Smit (capt), 1 Collazo
16 Regan, 17 Pucciariello, 18 Muller, 19 Koster, 20 Gregan, 21 Gear, 22 Rococoko
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I reckon they’ll announce the real team in about 20 minutes time and make me look like a poephol 🙂
I am looking forward to this game.
and it’s being shown LIVE. 😎
@robdylan (Comment 1) : I say Gregan to start.
@KSA Shark © (Comment 2) :
fortunately it is a Wednesday night for me so no worries about staying up until 1 am
@PJLD (Comment 3) : given Furry’s dodgy hammie, you might just be right.
@robdylan (Comment 5) : i did forgotted about the hammy but if fourie does start the team will actually be “too Bok” for my liking( how did i just look at the “Bokkie” on my desk and type that?)
Plus it will be cool to see ol George on the pitch,hate him.love him!
Does any of that make sense?
@PJLD (Comment 6) : yeah – agree. Must remember to wear my Bok beanie when I go out later, although last time I checked, I wasn’t actually supporting this thing.
I hope everyone who hauls out their Bok kit today is ALSO going to wear a red ribbon. Would hate it if something so much more important were to be overshadowed.
@robdylan (Comment 7) :
Kette and the Kettelets are wearing Bok Shirts to school, I am not.
I wear a red ribbon everyday.Im moving so i couldn’t find a top to wear but Bokkie is chilling high and mighty on my monitor.
@PJLD (Comment 9) : sorry 😳 will hop down off my soapbox
When is this game on? Sounds like it could be useful
Wearing red ribbons is fine, wearing condoms (any colour) is much better. Showers dont wotk.
@KSA Shark © (Comment 8) :
You wearing one of your England jerseys???
@Salmonoid (Comment 12) : amen
My Springbok email template carent wants to work… 😥 😥
@Salmonoid (Comment 12) : Fully
@Worcestershire Sauce (Comment 11) : kick-off is 21h45 your time on Wednesday
@wpw (Comment 15) : I see you are rabble rousing over on Voldy, as usual 🙂
@wpw (Comment 15) : what happens?
@robdylan (Comment 18) : which thread?
@robdylan (Comment 18) :
Me??? NEVER!!! 😯
@PJLD (Comment 20) : the one about his Cheekiness, of course…
Rob
What do you think of Voldy’s World XV??
Keo’s 2008 form World XV: Mils Miliaina (NZ), JP Pietersen (SA), Stirling Mortlock (Aus), Jean de Villiers (SA), Shane Williams (Wales), Matt Giteau (Aus), Jimmy Cowan (NZ), Andy Powell (Wales), Richie McCaw (NZ), Schalk Burger (SA), Ali Williams (NZ), Bakkies Botha (SA), Phil Vickery (Eng), Andrew Hore (NZ) and Tony Woodcock (NZ).
@robdylan (Comment 22) :
That’s HIS Cheekiness to you!!! 😳
@wpw (Comment 23) : I reckon those Martians are going to kak off!
Only one Shark? He’s clearly lost it.
Cant wait to see the Bokbarians chop the Ozzies
@wpw (Comment 13) :
Hehehhehe
I plead the fifth.
@robdylan (Comment 18) :
When wpw, comes on here in the morning and says: “I’m bored” I cringe.
thankfully he chose voldy today. 😉
@KSA Shark © (Comment 28) : indeed
@KSA Shark © (Comment 28) :
What do you mean Rob??
I don’t stir anymore… 🙄
@wpw (Comment 30) :
ok, now I’ve lost it… I called KSA Shark Rob.
Sorry for the insult Robbo 😉
@wpw (Comment 30) :
@wpw (Comment 31) :
Should put these two comments in the archives and store them under, “you can never believe what a poster says”
@KSA Shark © (Comment 32) :
comment 31 is not stirring! 👿
It is a heartfelt apology… 🙄
I would like to think that this match will be a cracker, but will probably not be. It’s the end of the season and/or a nothing match and players will not want to risk injury. Hope I’m wrong.
team announcement is meant to have happened at midday today…. you think I can find anything on it?
@McLovin (Comment 34) : sounds like it’s gonna be a makeshift Aussie span as well
Barbarians – 15 Percy Montgomery (SA), 14 Joe Rokocoko (NZ), 13 Rico Gear (NZ), 12 Jean de Villiers (SA), 11 Bryan Habana (SA), 10 Francois Steyn (SA), 9 Fourie du Preez (SA), 8 Schalk Burger (SA), 7 Richie McCaw (NZ), 6 Jerry Collins (NZ), 5 Johann Muller (SA), 4 Bakkies Botha (SA), 3 Census Johnston (Samoa), 2 John Smit (SA & captain), 1 Federico Pucciariello (Italy). Subs: 16 Mark Regan (England), 17 Rodney Blake (Australia), 18 Chris Jack (NZ), 19 Nick Koster (Western Province), 20 George Gregan (Australia), 21 Ollie Smith (England), 22 Shane Williams (Wales).
Rico Gear at 13???
And once again Jake continues to play players out of position. 😈
IRB player of the year only made the bench? 🙄
Sorry Manne, only saw the team now. 🙄
Must say that 4-8 look as deadly as it can get.
Some serious speed in that backline. Apart from Uncle Percy…. 😈
Good side. Burger at 8 will be interesting
Rob’s wish of muller and botha comes true a lot earlier than expected. 😎
@KSA Shark © (Comment 43) : Where you on piss patrol at the sevens? Catch anyone with a fake willy?
@KSA Shark © (Comment 43) : yeeehaa