The world’s most famous invitation club, the Barbarians, will aim to entertain when they celebrate their 125th year of existence.
The BaaBaas will host a strong Argentinean Los Pumas team at Twickenham on Saturday.
However, coach Michael Cheika’s message to his Barbarians team was simple.
“Keep it simple, have a go and back yourselves,” Cheika told the BaaBaas players.
Argentina have a slightly different focus.
Having finished 3rd in The Rugby Championship – the 1st time hey did not finish last – and 4th in the Rugby World Cup, they hope to finish their year on a winning note.
Wing Santiago Cordero, 1 of the sensations for the Pumas at the Rugby World up, said it is going to be a “pretty tough” game.
“They do not have the pressure of having to win and will go out to have fun,” the Argentinean flyer said.
“They will play with freedom.
“We represent our country and are determined not to lose.
“Hopefully it will be an entertaining game,” Cordero said.
He felt that Argentina’s big advantage can be that the BaaBaas have not played together much.
“We can’t afford to let them settle and must enforce our game on them from the outset,” he added.
The Barbarians will be captained by Springbok legend Victor Matfield.
Rugby World Cup finalists from New Zealand and Australia were aligned in a star-studded Barbarians line-up.
New Zealand wing Nehe Milner-Skudder lines up at fullback alongside Australia centre Tevita Kuridrani, 3 weeks on from the All Blacks’ 34 / 17 triumph against the Wallabies, in a side packed with talent from both teams.
Cheika, who steered Australia to the final, has also called upon 5 South Africa internationals and giant wing Nemani Nadolo of Fiji.
Pumas coach Daniel Hourcade named a team that shows 7 changes from that which lost to South Africa in the 3rd-place play-off at the Rugby World Cup.
The players who retained their places in the starting 15 are Julian Montoya, Ramiro Herrera, Matias Alemanno, Javier Ortega Desio, Nicolas Sanchez, Santiago Cordero, Jerónimo De la Fuente and Matías Moroni.
Although it is not a capped Test, Emiliano Boffelli will make his 1st appearance in a Pumas shirt if he comes off the bench.
This will only be the 2nd meeting between the Pumas and Barbarians – with the latter having won 34 / 22 when they met in November 1990.
Teams:
Los Pumas: 15 Ramiro Moyano, 14 Matías Moroni, 13 Jerónimo De la Fuente, 12 Santiago González Iglesias, 11 Santiago Cordero, 10 Nicolás Sánchez, 9 Martín Landajo (Captain), 8 Facundo Isa, 7 Javier Ortega Desio, 6 Pablo Matera, 5 Matías Alemanno, 4 Guido Petti Pagadizabal, 3 Ramiro Herrera, 2 Julián Montoya, 1 Lucas Noguera
Replacements: 16 Santiago Iglesias Valdez, 17 Santiago García Botta, 18 Nahuel Tetaz Chaparro, 19 Tomas Lezana, 20 Leonardo Senatore, 21 Felipe Ezcurra, 22 Gabriel Ascarate, 23 Emiliano Boffelli.
Barbarians: 15 Nehe Milner-Skudder (Hurricanes / New Zealand), 14 Waisake Naholo (Highlanders / New Zealand), 13 Tevita Kuridrani (Brumbies / Australia), 12 Ryan Crotty (Crusaders / New Zealand), 11 Nemani Nadolo (Crusaders / Fiji), 10 Lima Sopoaga (Highlanders / New Zealand), 9 Tawera Kerr Barlow (Chiefs / New Zealand), 8 Stephen Hoiles (Waratahs / Australia), 7 Ardie Savea (Hurricanes), 6 Scott Fardy (Brumbies / Australia), 5 Victor Matfield (Northampton Saints / South Africa – Captain), 4 Lood de Jager (Toyota Cheetahs / South Africa), 3 Charlie Faumuina (Blues / New Zealand), 2 Stephen Moore (Brumbies / Australia), 1 Thomas du Toit (Cell C Sharks)
Replacements – from: James Hanson (Melbourne Rebels / Australia), Jamie Mackintosh (Chiefs / New Zealand), Toby Smith (Melbourne Rebels / Australia), Bakkies Botha (South Africa), Jarrad Butler (Brumbies), Cobus Reinach (Cell C Sharks / South Africa), Pat Lambie (Cell C Sharks / South Africa), Francois Venter (Toyota Cheetahs), Joe Tomane (Brumbies / Australia).
Date: Saturday 21 November
Venue: Twickenham Stadium, London, England
Kick-Off: 17:05 SA Time (15:05 UK Time & GMT, 12:05 Arg Time)
Referee: JP Doyle (England)
Assistant Referees: Tim Wigglesworth (England), Paul Dix (England)
TMO: David Sainsbury (England)