Juan Manuel Leguizamon
Argentina flanker Juan Manuel Leguizamon has been selected to captain a Barbarians team including five All Blacks against England at Twickenham on Sunday.
Lyon forward Leguizamon will captain a side that also includes British and Irish Lions lock Donncha O’Callaghan, who will make his Barbarians debut, and just one uncapped player in Clermont’s Australian fly-half Brock James.
Head coach Dean Ryan, also the coach at Worcester Warriors, picked 13 of his starting XV from the French Top 14.
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“Juan Manuel Leguizamon commands respect as a player, he’s led the Pumas in Tests and he’ll do an excellent job throughout this week and at Twickenham on Sunday,” said Ryan.
“It’s a privilege to work with such an experienced and talented group, and in the short time we’ve been together they’ve shown how committed they are to delivering a first-class performance.”
“The Barbarians is a special entity in the way it brings together outstanding players from all corners of the rugby world but ultimately we have to deliver on the pitch and that is our aim.”
New Zealand internationals Joe Rokocoko (Bayonne), Rene Ranger (Montpellier), Benson Stanley (Clermont) and Hosea Gear (Toulouse) all ply their trade in France while the fifth All Black, Jimmy Cowan, plays for Gloucester in England.
Ryan’s side boasts 14 internationals from nine different nations with more than 700 caps between them.
Amongst them are Georgia powerhouses Davit Kubriashvili and Mamuka Gorgodze in the pack.
Munster lock O’Callaghan is the Barbarians’ most experienced star with 94 caps for Ireland and four for the Lions.