Wallabies v Barbarians

[aussies1st]

Wallabies: Adam Ashley-Cooper, Lachie Turner, Stirling Mortlock (capt), Berrick Barnes, Drew Mitchell, Matt Giteau, Luke Burgess, Richard Brown, George Smith, Matt Hodgson, Nathan Sharpe, James Horwill, Al Baxter, Stephen Moore, Benn Robinson. Replacements: Tatafu Polota-Nau, Ben Alexander, Dean Mumm, David Pocock, Josh Valentine, Quade Cooper, James O'Connor.

 

[Twizzle]

I cant believe the Baa Baas have never played in Australia before.

Bound to be chock full of southern hemisphere players.

 

[aussies1st]

I haven't seen their liineup but I know SBW is in it!

 

[ozbash]

Last week Sonny Bill Williams was served up a patsy in the boxing ring; this week he gets a much tougher opponent to trade blows with on the rugby canvas.
That was the upshot after the Barbarians today played ball and served up the midfield matchup everyone wants to see at the SFS on Saturday night, pitching in Williams to go head to head with Wallabies captain Stirling Mortlock.
It shapes as the ultimate test for the young Toulon-based New Zealnder at this early stage of his rugby career. Mortlock is very much a rugby version of the heavyweight champ. He's been there, done that, and has the scars to prove it. Yet he's still a mightily impressive performer.
There might be no greater measuring stick for the former league star, part-time boxer, and hopeful rugby standout to apply to himself. If SBW truly hopes to make it in rugby - and maybe even wear the black jersey in time - then Saturday night could well give him his best indication yet whether it's on the cards.
Williams was named in an otherwise experienced and imposing Barbarians XV to face the Wallabies in Saturday night's historic encounter at the Sydney Football Stadium.
He will partner former Highlanders standout Seilala Mapusua in midfield where they will have their work cut out against the Wallabies tandem of Mortlock and Berrick Barnes.
There will be a real Kiwi flavour to the inside back division of the Baabaas, too, with Luke McAlister calling the shots at first five.
Williams admitted earlier this week he'll be nervous on the biggest occasion of his fledgling rugby career, but his coach Dai Young today shrugged off such anxieties as all part of the deal.
"He's been a top performer in the past, he's played in big games in the past, I don't think he'll be too fazed about it," said the Welshman.
Williams will certainly have plenty of old heads around him in an imposing sort of Baabaas side and one more than capable of giving a youthful Wallabies outfit a run for its money at the SFS.
As well as Williams and McAlister, key New Zealand interest will be around how well Jerry Collins performs in a physically imposing loose trio alongside newly re-signed Aussie Rocky Elsom and his former Waratahs team-mate Phil Waugh, who will captain the invitation side.
Their matchup against young pretenders Richard Brown and Matt Hodgson in the Wallabies loose trio should be sizzling with intensity.
Former flame-haired Hurricane Paul Tito, one of three uncapped players in the match 22, will form an all-Kiwi second row with Chris Jack, while ex-Highlander Clarke Dermody takes the loosehead spot in a useful front row.
Justin Marshall will be gutted to miss the starting spot for a match of this magnitude, but the 35-year-old All Black legend makes way for local boy Chris Whitaker as the run-on halfback.
Former AB Greg Somerville also takes his place on a weighty bench that includes 70-cap Englishman Martin Corry and 63-test Frenchman Serge Betsen. Also riding the pine are Kiwi backs Glen Jackson (Saracens) and Ben Blair (Cardiff).
The Barbarians are certainly not light on international experience. They have 495 test caps among their starting XV and another 280 on the bench.
Waugh described captaining the invitation side against his country as a "huge honour" and a "unique experience". But he was keen to downplay any suggestion that he and Elsom have points to prove, considering they will rejoin the Wallabies after this game.
"I think Rocky has been proving his point over in Ireland for the last 12 months," said Waugh of Elsom's headline-grabbing stint for Heineken Cup champions Leinster.
"It's great to play alongside him again. He's obviously a world-class player and I'm sure he'll be very focused on his performance as well."
The match marks the first time the Barbarians have played in Australia, though it will be the 11th clash between the two teams in total. The Wallabies have won seven of the 10 previous matchups.
BARBARIANS: 15 Geordan Murphy (Ireland), 14 Iain Balshaw (England), 13 Sonny Bill Williams (uncapped, NZ), 12 Seilala Mapusua (Samoa), 11 Josh Lewsey (England), 10 Luke McAlister (NZ), 9 Chris Whitaker (Australia); 8 Rocky Elsom (Australia), 7 Phil Waugh (captain, Aus), 6 Jerry Collins (NZ), 5 Paul Tito (uncapped, NZ), 4 Chris Jack (NZ), 3 BJ Botha (South Africa), 2 Sebastien Bruno (France), 1 Clarke Dermody (NZ). Reserves: 16 Schalk Brits (SA), 17 Greg Somerville (NZ), 18 Martin Corry (England), 19 Serge Betsen (France), 20 Justin Marshall (NZ), 21 Glen Jackson (uncapped, NZ), 22 Ben Blair (NZ).

http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/2469362/Sonny-Bill-gets-start-for-Baabaas

 

[Twizzle]

so much for southern hemisphere players dominating

good mix there

 

[Thomas]

I tell you what...the Baabaas back row of Collins, Elsom and Waugh is pretty f**king awesome.

 

[aussies1st]

That is a pretty handy backline and the forwards are no mugs.

 

[AusKnightRKO]

that is one very strong team the forwards are gun all over and the backline is just as good as good could put out

 

[ozbash]

The Wallabies cantered past the Barbarians 55-7 in their first rugby hit-out of the season as the invitation side's spirited challenge failed to materialise.
Inspired again by brilliant first five-eighth Matt Giteau, the Wallabies scored eight tries to one and despite not being at their best, it was enough against a weary Barbarians who counted 10 New Zealanders in their lineup.
The Sydney Football Stadium crowd of 39,688 had enough to enthuse about, as the game's poster boy Sonny Bill Williams made a solid first appearance with few chances.
All Blacks first five-eighth Luke McAlister, on trial for a recall after two seasons in England, also had little chance to shine as the Wallabies dominated possession but would have pleased coach Graham Henry in the stand with his few touches.
The Wallabies hadn't lost to the Barbarians since 1976 and never looked like it tonight as they raced in four tries in the final 15 minutes as the Barbarians tired. Winger Drew Mitchell led the way with a double.
The marketers billed it as a Stirling versus Sonny Bill show: Wallabies captain Stirling Mortlock against former Kiwis league international Williams; seven months since he walked out on his Bulldogs club and headed to France.
Williams didn't disappoint, and the crowd roared as he nearly scored with his first touch, in the third minute.
Williams charged past his opposite Mortlock from a gap created by McAlister, but was upended by halfback Luke Burgess under the posts and the move broke down.
Mortlock only had a short wait for his revenge when he smashed Williams in a front on tackle as he ran on to a McAlister skip pass. It set the tone for the night as nearly every Wallabies back lined up to take their shot at the 107kg powerhouse.
The Wallabies dominated the first half, rattling up three tries in 17 minutes to lead 20-7 at the break.
The Barbarians, including 775 test caps in all, found it tough going a week after beating England at Twickenham.
There, they raced to a 33-6 lead but tonight they were sluggish, showed their limited preparation and fell off tackles as the Wallabies hogged possession.
Former All Blacks flanker Jerry Collins was at the forefront of the Barbarians' charges but there was little flow or space against a willing home defence.
Burgess set up the Wallabies' first try, to lock James Horwill in the sixth minute, when he raced onto a chip kick to put the hosts on attack. The halfback later departed with a hip injury.
Mitchell scored their second from a loose ball when he brushed off former Highlander Seilala Mapusua, who departed before the break with a leg injury.
Giteau then weaved his magic with a double dummy which fooled everyone, including Mapusua and Williams, to stroll over untouched.
The only joy for the Barbarians came on the halftime hooter when their captain Phil Waugh, playing his regular teammates, stole an intercept and sent McAlister away.
He found Williams, who was hit hard by his shadow Mortlock, but the Barbarians regrouped and former Chiefs five-eighth Glen Jackson put England winger Iain Balshaw over in the corner.
Former All Blacks Justin Marshall and Ben Blair got their chances off the bench, with Blair's energy sparking the Barbarians in the second spell as the Wallabies lost some of their shape.
Williams broke through and offloaded for Blair who burst clear, but after Williams handled again they turned over the ball.
But in a flash the Wallabies went back on attack and reserve halfback Josh Valentine sent hooker Stephen Moore on a 30m gallop to the posts, to make it 27-7 with 20 to go.
Wallabies 55 (Drew Mitchell 2, James Horwill, Matt Giteau, Stephen Moore, Ben Alexander, David Pocock, James O'Connor tries; Giteau pen, 4 con, Stirling Mortlock 2 con)
Barbarians 7 (Iain Balshaw try; Luke McAlister con).
Halftime: 20-7.

http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/2479677/Wallabies-whip-Barbarians/