Veteran Bok lock Victor Matfield will captain the Barbarians in his final game this weekend; Matfield will retire from rugby after the festival game at Twickenham which will see the star-studded team take on Australia.
The Baabaas have named a formidable line-up for the clash, with another old-timer, English stalwart Simon Shaw, partnering Matfield in the second row. A trio in All Blacks in hooker Keven Mealamu, flanker Jerome Kaino and number 8 Adam Thomson give the pack further grunt, with Argetine prop Eudebio Guinazu adding further to the Southern Hemisphere flavour, Tight head Sylvain Marconnet (France) and Italian back rower Mauro Bergamasco ensure that the North is also represented up front.
Controversial Rebels flyhalf Danny Cipriani will run the show, alongside Ireland’s Peter Stringer, and while the bulk of the three-quarter line is hugely experienced, the man chosen to play right wing will raise a few eyebrows. Sam Tomkins is an English rugby league international who will be playing his first-ever game of union this weekend. Aussie Stirling Mortlock, uncapped Kiwi Robbie Fruean and Bok Bryan Habana will play with him and show him the ropes, while another All Black, Ice Toeava is at fullback.
A third Bok, hooker Adriaan Strauss, will play off the reserve bench.
The Australians have named a settled-looking lineup, with David Pocock captaining for the first time. The injury-enforced absence of Quade Cooper means a start at flyhalf for James O’Connor, with Lachie Turner picked on the wing.
The game kicks off at 14h35 local time in London, meaning a 16h35 start in South Africa.
Barbarians: 15 Isaia Toeava, 14 Sam Tomkins, 13 Robbie Fruean, 12 Stirling Mortlock, 11 Bryan Habana, 10 Danny Cipriani, 9 Peter Stringer, 8 Adam Thomson, 7 Mauro Bergamasco, 6 Jerome Kaino, 5 Victor Matfield (captain), 4 Simon Shaw, 3 Sylvain Marconnet, 2 Keven Mealamu, 1 Eusebio Guinazu.
Replacements: 16 Adriaan Strauss, 17 Salvatore Perugini, 18 Jason White, 19 Marco Bortolami, 20 Nemia Kenatale, 21 Richard Kahui, 22 Seru Rabeni.
Australia: 15 Adam Ashley-Cooper, 14 Lachie Turner, 13 Rob Horne, 12 Berrick Barnes, 11 Digby Ioane, 10 James O’Connor, 9 Will Genia, 8 Ben McCalman, 7 David Pocock, 6 Scott Higginbotham, 5 Nathan Sharpe, 4 Rob Simmons, 3 Salesi Ma’afu, 2 Tatafu Polota Nau, 1 James Slipper.
Replacements: 16 Stephen Moore, 17 Ben Alexander, 18 James Horwill, 19 Dave Dennis, 20 Matt Hodgson, 21 Nick Phipps, 22 Ben Tapuai.
Tweet
Great Baabaa team. Going to be a long day in the office for the Aussies if the Baabaa’s can gel together.
If the Baabaas forwards front up this could be a cracker. I just wonder what motivation and energy levels will be like after a long season! End of an era for a Springbok Legend…go well Mr Matfield!
Have a great game Victor & enjoy 😮
@SheldonK (Comment 2) : If they dont, they’re in for a hiding 😈
@JarsonX (Comment 4) : My thoughts exactly. I like the Ozzie backline, except i wud have put Tapuai in to start at 13.
At least this thread is getting the attention it deserves. 🙂
I like the Baa Baa`s forwards, Cipriani and Mortlock next to each other though . . . 😕
Hope the aussies gets klapped stukkend today
Shaw and Matfield, loads of experience in the second row. Is Shaw also retiring?
Don’t like the halfback pairing. Think they might struggle, never really rated Cipriani not after the way the English media hyped him in 2008 and then Ruan Pienaar completely outplayed him
Like Robbie Fruen played good with SBW, hope the experience of Mortlock will help him
HT
Aus 18 – 3 Baba’s
The 1st half produced the most worst final passes ever
Victor you really are a top notch captain. 😆 😆 😆 😆 😆
Habana opens up the defence!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
oh wait it was his own defence that he opened up by coming off his line allowing Aus to run from their own 22 to the Barbarians 22. 😳
@KSA Shark © (Comment 15) : 😆
Aus 60 – 11 Baba’s
Victor ends his career with a woer woer attempt of a goal kick….
Ouch..! That final scored couldn’t have been expected .. Actually thought the baabaas were gonna take this game 😐
Sheesh, they were poor…
Thankfully we’ll never have to see Vic trying to captain a side again… great player, always been a woeful captain.
Wathcing Johnny Smit playing for Sarries at the moment.
Sarries are getting hammered but Smitty is playing fantastically.
And he’s sporting a great ginger tache!
@VinChainSaw (Comment 19) :
BYE BYE VICTORIA!!!!!!!!!! sang to the tune of “my my Delila” Dubai 7s anthem and Tom Jones hit.