Barbarians to face a fiji.

Springboks, All Blacks dominate Barbarians squad to face Fiji




Jean de Villiers makes a break against the Wallabies earlier this year.

Photo: Reuters
South Africa captain Jean de Villiers is one of nine Springboks

included in a 23-man Barbarians squad to face Fiji at Twickenham.

The squad contains eight members of the South Africa squad who have

already beaten Wales and Scotland on their current tour of Europe, as

well as legendary Springbok flanker Schalk Burger.

Full-back Willie le Roux, so impressive in last weekend's 28-0 win over

Scotland, is also included as are fly-half Pat Lambie and forwards

Duane Vermeulen, Eben Etzebeth, Coenie Oosthuizen, Tendai Mtawarira and

Bismarck du Plessis.

World champions New Zealand provide the coach in Steve Hansen, plus

eight All Blacks.

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There are also five Argentina internationals at Hansen's disposal.

Barbarians' teams traditionally include at least one uncapped player

and that role is filled against Fiji by Wellington Hurricanes scrum-

half TJ Perenara.

This month's fixture, on November 30, celebrates the centenary of the

Fiji Rugby Union and is a re-match of the Fijians' shock 29-9 win over

the Barbarians at Newcastle Gosforth, north-east England, in 1970.

Barbarians chairman John Spencer, who played in that match, said: "I

suppose you could say that we were favourites to win the match but in

the event we were overwhelmed by Fiji's relentless attacking.

"If I remember rightly, we were level at half-time but Fiji finished

with seven tries! All we could do at the end was congratulate them on a

phenomenal performance," added the 66-year-old former centre, who

played 14 Tests for England from 1969-71.

A large crowd is expected for the match, with more than 60,000 seats

sold at a Twickenham ground where the capacity is over 80,000.

Although not normally accorded full Test status, matches for the

Barbarians - rugby union's most famous invitational side - have

traditionally been regarded as a significant honour for the players

selected.

The Barbarians' most celebrated fixture was their 23-11 win against New

Zealand in Cardiff in 1973.

Gareth Edwards's opening score, when the outstanding Wales scrum-half

finished off a seven-man length-of-the-field move initiated by half-

back partner Phil Bennett, is still widely regarded as one of rugby

union's greatest tries.

Barbarians squad to play Fiji

Backs: Willie le Roux (RSA), Santiago Cordero (ARG), Charles Piutau

(NZL), Frank Halai (NZL), Jean de Villiers (RSA), Gavin Williams (SAM),

Patrick Lambie (RSA), Tom Taylor (NZL), TJ Perenara (Hurricanes),

Martin Landajo (ARG)

Forwards: Keven Mealamu (NZL), Bismarck du Plessis (RSA), Tendai

Mtawarira (RSA), Guillermo Roan (ARG), Coenie Oosthuizen (RSA), Matias

Diaz (ARG), Eben Etzebeth (RSA), Dominic Bird (NZL), Manuel Carizza

(ARG), Steven Luatua (NZL), Luke Whitelock (NZL), Schalk Burger (RSA),

Duane Vermeulen (RSA)

AFP