Matfield to lead Barbarians
2 Dec 2009
Victor Matfield will captain a Barbarians starting team containing seven South Africans to face the All Blacks at Twickenham.
Matfield will make his debut in the famous jersey, and has been chosen by head coach Nick Mallett to lead the team instead of other international leaders such as Rocky Elsom. Matfield will line-up alongside South African-born and schooled Italy lock Carlo del Fava, while Free State’s WP Nel is the traditional uncapped player.
The forwards and backs contain some big names, but how quickly they gel will be important if they wish to knock over the Kiwis on Saturday.
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 WP Nel (Free State Cheetahs), 2 Bismarck du Plessis (South Africa), 1 Salvatore Perugini (Italy).
Subs: 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).
22 Comments
2 Dec 2009, 17:44 pm
tis great that theres so many saffas in the side and that victor will lead the side but tis more rugby now after a long season the guys should sit out if they can
2 Dec 2009, 17:45 pm
Strong team Baabaas. Are they televising it? Looks likes 7′s rugby is on the M-Net sports channel. I don’t have DSTV.
2 Dec 2009, 17:46 pm
@klippies101:
They get about 100K each. They want the Tom. Its that 4th farm they need to pay for.
2 Dec 2009, 17:48 pm
No Irish. Would have prefered Rob Kearney at 15. But I’ll accept it.
2 Dec 2009, 17:52 pm
I hope WP Nel gives Wyatt Crockett horns in the scrums.
2 Dec 2009, 20:12 pm
Certainly looks far stronger on paper than the AB 2nd XV.
2 Dec 2009, 21:57 pm
@WakaNathan:
hahaha……..The AB’s 2nd XV?? Like the Boks 2nd XV against Sarries and Leicster? Lovely double standards some people live by hey.
2 Dec 2009, 23:59 pm
@whatever:
Yes, exactly like it was the Boks 2nd XV vs Saracens B and Leicester C.
And almost exactly the same as the ABs 2nd XV team that beat Italy.
3 Dec 2009, 00:02 am
@WakaNathan:
Doos
3 Dec 2009, 00:07 am
You miss the point yet again ya twat. Whenever SA lose, it’s the World Champs, even if they fielded a second string team made up of quotas or not (Effectively not a 2nd XV either). Yet you stress the point that the AB’s are fielding their 2nd XV.
Why not for once open both eyes and try for some consistancy?
Win or lose on Sat, it will be the AB’s, not the AB’s 2nd XV. Get over it already!
3 Dec 2009, 00:08 am
Fourie and Roberts should be an interesting combo.
3 Dec 2009, 00:10 am
Ditto for FDP and Giteau…as long as FDP doesn’t kick the ball away all afternoon.
3 Dec 2009, 00:16 am
@whatever:
All Black fans are far more ‘one eyed’ than Bok fans.
I’ll admit to having green blinkers now and again but when Kiwi’s start comparing Conrad Smith to BOD…..that’s when you know you talking to idiots.
3 Dec 2009, 00:55 am
@CenturionShark (aka LondonShark): I guess, the only players to compare BOD with are Boks, right?
3 Dec 2009, 06:30 am
@whatever: Just because he disagrees with you, is no reason to insult him.
Clearly you have some growing up to do before you can contribute in a meaningful way on this forum.
3 Dec 2009, 06:32 am
@WakaNathan: I think that it will be an interesting match but suspect that “even” a 2nd team All Black XV will be asking too much.
Team cohesion goes a long way to achieving victory and I believe that it is this, that will see the All Blacks prevail.
3 Dec 2009, 06:43 am
The AB’s will clean up. They will struggle at scrum though.
Lets see good BaaBaas rugger. Plenty of tries. Matfield is not a good captain and gets on the wrong sides of refs.
What are these strange Kiwis bloggin here. Go to a good Kiwi Rugby site like http: *** blogs. com and make your self at home…
3 Dec 2009, 08:01 am
Big Vic wasn’t fulfilled by his bit-part in Empire of the Sun’s video of We Are The People…
So now he’s demanded a leading role in the Baas Baas!!!
3 Dec 2009, 08:52 am
I am pumped for this game from an entertainment value. That Barbarians team is fantastic-competitive backrow with a fetcher and two mean ball carriers/bullies, a strong front-row, great half-back pairing, and sweet outside backs.
The focus should be on this game, and the unique opportunity it presents to see what is almost a dream team versus the All Blacks. Habana and Joe on the wings, Du Preez and Giteau as half backs, Elsom and Schalk bullying people while Smith steals the ball.
Absolutely awesome.
3 Dec 2009, 11:11 am
Will be interesting to see if Genia can bring more out of Steyn or if FdP is going to stifle Giteau’s natural play.
The loose trio of the Baabaas look great on paper.
3 Dec 2009, 12:11 pm
@whatever: Hahahaha I love that, says it all in one word
4 Dec 2009, 16:47 pm
Should be a very interesting game. It’s a much stronger Barbarian team then we’ve normally seen in the past. Habana and Rockococo are going to be a very interesting combo. As goes for Elsom, Smith and Burger. That’s a strong loose trio. Jamie Roberts and Jaques Fourie is actually quite a midfield. But FDP and Giteau takes the cake – What a fantastic halfback combo. If FDP plays his running game, they’ll dominate.
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