Springbok World Cup winning lock Victor Matfield will captain a powerful Barbarians XV side, containing uncapped young prop WP Nel, in this weekend big clash with the All Blacks at Twickenham.
Matfield’s side is full of international talent and includes five of his Springbok teammates, as well as New Zealand wing Joe Rokocoko, Wallabies’ skipper Rocky Elsom, and Lions’ player of the series, Jamie Roberts, in the starting XV.
Looking forward to the game, Matfield said: “To be invited to lead such a star-studded outfit is a huge honour for me. It will also be my debut for the Barbarians and the whole experience since the squad met up last Sunday has been unique.”
Coached by Italian head coach Nick Mallett, the Barbarians side features two Azzurri forwards in it’s tight five.
Nel, a star for the Free State Cheetahs during the 2009 Currie Cup, has been handed a starting spot in the front row alongside his countryman Bismarck du Plessis and Italian powerhouse Salvatore Perugini.
Barbarians: 15 Drew Mitchell (Australia), 14 Joe Rokocoko (New Zealand), 13 Jaque Fourie (South Africa), 12 Jamie Roberts (Wales), 11 Bryan Habana (South Africa), 10 Matt Giteau (Australia), 9 Fourie du Preez (South Africa), 8 George Smith (Australia), 7 Schalk Burger (South Africa), 6 Rocky Elsom (Australia), 5 Victor Matfield (South Africa, captain), 4 Carlo del Fava (Italy), 3 W P Nel (Free State Cheetahs), 2 Bismarck du Plessis (South Africa), 1 Salvatore Perugini (Italy).
Replacements: 16 Stephen Moore (Australia), 17 Tendai Mtawarira (South Africa), 18 Quintin Geldenhuys (Italy), 19 Andy Powell (Wales), 20 Will Genia (Australia), 21 Morne Steyn (South Africa), 22 Leigh Halfpenny (Wales).
Date: Saturday, December 5
Venue: Twickenham
Kick-off: 14:15 GMT, 16:15 SA Time
Referee: Christophe Berdos (France)
Assistant referees: Romain Poite (France, David Changleng (Scotland)
TMO: Andrew Turner (England), Graham Hughes (England)
Donnerse strong team… of individuals though….
Team:
7 Saffas
4 Australians
1 Welschman
1 New Zealander
2 Italians
Replacements:
2 Saffas
2 Australians
2 Welschmen
1 Italian (Saffa)
Captain Jan Matfield
Good team ja, but will they pull one over tha Blacks?
3@ Pille – Not likely, the All Blacks have trained long together, even if it is their 2nd side, mixed with one or 3 First Teamers…
And we all know the booze flows freely in the week before this game with the BaaBaas players…
Why is Matfield even playing in this exhibition match? Last week he was so tired he couldn’t front up to the Irish, 2 weeks before that it was the French.
Sorry folks but this is just an example of the players prostituting themselves for money.
But Loosehead the players did not say they are tired, its the media
Super, granted, but they sure are playing as if they are tired. Or uninterested?
5
“In shining yellow boots at the Richmond Athletic Ground today Matfield had a spring in his step as he contemplated a crack at a fourth win over the All Blacks this year.
“It is always nice to get another one over the All Blacks because you don’t get that very often,” he said.
The Barbarians are likely to be up against an unfamiliar All Blacks locking duo, possibly of Jason Eaton and Anthony Boric.
But Matfield said though it was not a test match there was no chance he would be taking his task lightly.
“We are having fun, we are enjoying each other’s company, but we are also playing the All Blacks, so we need to be on our best or we will get a big thrashing,” he said.
The South African contingent had been through a long year, but were more than happy to be playing one last game, Matfield said.
“A lot of the guys would love to be on summer holiday back in South Africa, but to get the chance to play with guys like Matt Giteau and the other boys is awesome,” he said”
You know Loosehead the French won 4 out of 5 of the last games against SA if i remember right. Now they came with a massive onslaught and they have the edge on us. That loss was on the cards , we were the underdogs, but right up to the end we fought and almost steal the win. That how i see it, not that tired scenario.
Same with Ireland it now the last 3 they won, and again if we had BJ still on we would have made it a steal win, that last 5 minutes of our test season was great.
Evening all….Can I ask 4man, Supa and JL1 –
As there are so many South Africans in the team are we wearing our Springbok Jerseys to the Barbarians Match?
I need to know! 😉
10
Hi Carol,
I think it will be what they are going to wear. You must enjoy it.
Hi superBul, great, I will pretend to be South African for the day!! 🙂
Is it tomorrow that you see the cheetah cubs being released, I was thinking it was soon?
Lekker looking Baba team, but a team will almost always truimph over individuals in rugby.
Howzit aunty Carol. What’s cooking in the kitchen?
12
no its Friday, tomorrow we braai in the Lions den…..OK next to it.
14 – Snoek – Tuna, pasta and sweetcorn……Then we hit the pub tonight!
How is it in snoek land?
15 – superBul – All sounds wonderful, keep the camera close at hand.
OK off now, going to do some drinking practice for Saturday!!
Enjoy your evening Carol.
Snoek ou maat die rugby seisoen kom nou tot ruste. Maar dit was great. Sou darem wat wou gee vir n wen teen die Iere.
Super, how do you explain the jaded performance then?
Matfield, ag nee moer man. If he is the captain, odds are he will stay on the field a full 80 minutes.
There has been this discussion about some of the Boks’s performances, and I for one really believe the guys need a rest. Its a VERY fine balance between keeping momentum and breaking down.
NR 8) SuperBul, eks jammer ou maat, maar wil jy vir my se die die Kiwi’s, Aussies en Lions het vanjaar nie HARD gespeel nie? Elke keer kon Victor dit handle, maar nie teen die Franse en Iere nie? Hoe dan nou?
En hoe de MOER gaan die nr.1 span ter wereld, 3N kampioene, wereld kampioene en B&I Lions oorwinnaars as UNDERDOGS in ‘n game teen die Franse in? Slegs as daar GROOT probleem is. En ja, daar is, die ouens se lywe gee IN. Onthou dis nie net die seisoen nie, maar nou die afgelope 3. Matfield en Smit het bv in Des/Jan 2007/2008 ook in Europa gespeel.
Sorry, ek weet nie hoe daai smiley gekom het nie, ek bedoel
Nr.8…
GG die All Blacks het ook gese dis vir hulle n lang seisoen. Die Aussies met die swakste provinsiale kompetisie m.a.w die minste rugby het die jaar die swakste gevaar, min speel het hulle niks gehelp nie. Was hulle dalk nie wedstryd skerp nie?
Te min speel kan jou nou weer in n posisie plaas waar die speler nie in top vorm is nie.
Die Franse het n kwaai aptyt vir Springbok vleis, ons sal uiters slim teen hulle moet speel in die toekoms. Hulle rekord teen ons word nou al n mental barrier.
Right off to work
Enjoy your day
Hope i can add some good Lions pictures to my gallery
SuperBul – how can braaing in a lions cage be considered work? 😉
GBS Goeie More lekker ding. 😉
Very strong Baabaas team! I cant wait!
Carol @ 10
I am wearing Bok gear for sure!
28 Supa. Great, I will not look a wally turning up in Green and gold then!!
Really looking forward to meeting you and Mrs.Supa on Saturday, what time are you planning to be at the pub?
BaaBaas should loose here I think.
Like was said before, it’s one huge piss-up the week before the game.
Mallet won’t take kuk though.
Game would be good entertainment value at best, everything else is just a risk for injuries.
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