Bok star to captain star-studded Barbarians side
TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Springbok double World Cup winner Faf de Klerk will captain Barbarian F.C. when they host Wales at Allianz Stadium, Twickenham, on Saturday.
De Klerk will lead a star-studded Barbarians team with 19 internationals from 11 different nations.
De Klerk scored a try off the bench as the Springboks triumphed over the BaaBaas last weekend in Port Elizabeth, but he now swaps the green and gold for black and white.
Barbarians head coach Scott Robertson said: “It’s great to have a player of Faf’s quality and experience leading the group this week.
“We have a group packed with talent, who have come together from all over the world.
“Faf is such a fierce competitor, he knows how to run a week, so he is driving the boys, but he also fully embraces the Barbarian spirit and hits the right balance.”
De Klerk’s fellow double world champion Vincent Koch also starts and packs down in a front-row with Georgia and Racing 92 tight-head Giorgi Kharaishvili and Dragons RFC hooker Elliot Dee, who faces his fellow countrymen.
Robertson and Robbie Deans have named a physically imposing back five to the pack with Australia international Isack Rodda combining with France enforcer Romain Taofifénua in the second row.
Wallabies’ powerhouse, Lukhan Salakaia-Loto, former England international Nathan Hughes and Panasonic Wild Knight Lachlan Boshier form the backrow.
De Klerk partners Clermont’s former New Zealand fly-half Harry Plummer. Munster’s Alex Nankivell starts for the second consecutive week and combines with Stade Francais star Jeremy Ward with Virimi Vakatawa moving to the wing.
The 82-cap France international is joined in the back three by Wallaby Andrew Kellaway, who bagged a brace last weekend and Bayonne and France full-back Tom Spring.
Robertson added: “We are looking forward to another great occasion at Twickenham and the fact that it’s a double-header with the women is awesome.
“We have picked a team to really challenge Wales. It’s a big team, with a bit of a Top 14 core, but we also want to move the ball, play what’s on and entertain what is hopefully a big crowd.
“It’s an awesome opportunity for this talented group to show what they are all about. They are all here because they have a super talent and we want them to express themselves.”
Wales and British & Irish Lions legend George North is named on the replacements bench with a 6-2 split.
North, who still holds the record for the youngest player to reach 100 caps, will draw the curtain on his glittering career at Twickenham.
Barbarian F.C: 15 Tom Spring, 14 Andrew Kellaway, 13 Jeremy Ward, 12 Alex Nankivell, 11 Virimi Vakatawa, 10 Harry Plummer, 9 Faf de Klerk (captain), 8 Nathan Hughes, 7 Lachlan Boshier, 6 Lukhan Salakaia-Loto, 5 Romain Taofifénua, 4 Izack Rodda, 3 Vincent Koch, 2 Elliot Dee, 1 Giorgi Kharaishvili.
Replacements: 16 Harry Thacker, 17 Jack Iscaro, 18 Paul Alo-Emile, 19 Yoan Tanga, 20 Jordan Joseph, 21 Santiago Arata, 22 George North, 23 Liam McConnell
Date: Saturday, June 27
Venue: Allianz Stadium, Twickenham
Kick-off: 14.00 (BST); 15.00 (SAST)
Referee: Anthony Woodthorpe (Eng)
Assistant referees: Alex Thomas (Eng), Jamie Parr (Eng)
TMO: Stuart Terheege (Eng)
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