BaaBaas to give Aussies a 'real game'
New Zealand great John Kirwan said he was looking forward to picking the available "cream of the Southern Hemisphere talent" when he coaches the Barbarians against Australia at Twickenham next month.
The opening match of the Wallabies' tour of Europe is set to see them facing some familiar foes when they take on Rugby Union's most famous invitational side.
Already in the UK-based Barbarians' line-up are Australia wing Nick Cummins, currently opting out of international rugby for family reasons, Springbok forwards CJ van der Linde, Heinrich Brüssow and Coenie Oosthuizen as well as former England prop Matt Stevens.
Blues coach Kirwan is set to name his latest batch of players for the non-cap international next week, including a group pushing for places at the 2015 World Cup in England.
"We're desperate to give Australia a real game, especially at the start of their tour," Blues boss Kirwan told Rugby World magazine.
"I'll be digging into my contacts book to pick the cream of the Southern Hemisphere talent," added Kirwan, a World Cup winner when the All Blacks triumphed on home soil at the inaugural edition of the global showpiece tournament in 1987.
"I will also pick a few exciting Southern Hemisphere players on the cusp of Test call-ups, so it will be a huge opportunity to showcase their talent on the big stage," he added.
"They know a fair few of the Australians, which should really add some spice," said the 49-year-old Kirwan, who scored 35 tries in 63 Tests during his decade-long international career.
"We've also got Nick Cummins operating in a roving role out wide. 'The Badge' can do what he wants! He's a great guy."
Kirwan, while conscious of the need to give Australia a meaningful match in the Killick Cup clash at Twickenham on November 1, which precedes the Wallabies' full internationals against Wales, France, Ireland and England on successive weekends, is also keen to maintain the Barbarians' tradition of attacking rugby played by a 'thrown-together' team.
"We need to compete, so we'll put the best footie team forward to do that," Kirwan said.
"Rugby is still the game I love and I think it's really important we have occasions like this. I need us to keep that tradition alive by playing incredibly well.
"What I've always liked about the BaaBaas is their sense of fun and old-fashioned values," he said of a side which has no ground of its own and whose teams traditionally contain at least one uncapped player.
"In a way, the BaaBaas embody the ethos of rugby and that needs to be maintained."
Although their matches do not normally have full Test status, being selected to wear the Barbarians' black-and-white hooped jersey – although in another tradition players must use their own club or international socks – is still considered a significant honour.
Source: AFP
