Get Newsletter

Super Shane's swansong

Wales legend Shane Williams will start for the Barbarians in Saturday's Test match, when the Ospreys wing will make his final appearance of a stellar career when he faces his own country in Cardiff.

The former IRB World Player of the Year, who won 87 caps for Wales between 2000 and 2011, is one of three Welshmen named in John Kirwan's starting side.

Williams is picked on the left wing, with Richie Rees chosen at scrumhalf and Duncan Jones packing down at loosehead prop.

Rees has won nine caps for Wales so far and will see Saturday as a good chance to put pressure on the likes of Mike Phillips, Lloyd Williams, Rhys Webb and Tavis Knoyle ahead of his move from the Blues to Edinburgh.

Jones won the first of his 57 international caps in 2001 but hasn't featured for Wales since November 2009 when he came off the bench in defeat to Australia.

Blues centre Casey Laulala will play his last game in the capital before heading to Munster, while fellow All Blacks Mils Muliana and Stephen Donald start at full back and fly-half respectively for the invitational outfit.

Leinster's Fijian wing Isa Nacewa will be hoping for a repeat of his late match-winning score in last year's fixture as he completes a backline that also includes England's World Cup winning centre Mike Tindall.

Former South Africa skipper John Smit captains the side from tighthead, while Bath flank Francois Louw is the second Springbok in the starting side.

Second row Mick O'Driscoll and flank Johnnie Beattie provide Irish and Scottish representation, with Benoit August of France, Mark Chisholm of Australia and Mamuka Gorgodze of Georgia taking the total number of countries represented in the first XV to 10.

The Barbarians defeated Ireland 29-28 on Tuesday, after having lost 26-57 to England last Sunday.

Barbarians: 15 Mils Muliaina, 14 Isa Nacewa, 13 Casey Laulala, 12 Mike Tindall, 11 Shane Williams, 10 Stephen Donald, 9 Richie Rees, 8 John Beattie, 7 Mamuka Gorgodze, 6 Francois Louw, 5 Mark Chisholm, 4 Mick O'Driscoll, 3 John Smit (captain), 2 Benoit August, 1 Duncan Jones.

Replacements: 16 Aled De Malmanche, 17 Neemia Tialata, 18 Anton Van Zyl, 19 Akapusi Qera, 20 Rory Lawson, 21 Sailosi Tagicakibau, 22 Cedric Heymans.

Date: Saturday, June 2

Venue: Millennium Stadium, Cardiff

Kick-off: 14.00 (13.00 GMT)

Referee: Alain Rolland (Ireland)

Assistant referees: TBC (Ireland)

TMO: TBC (Wales)

ADVERTISEMENT

Join free

Yokohama Canon Eagles vs Toshiba Brave Lupus Tokyo | Japan Rugby League One 2024/25 | Full Match Replay

Edinburgh vs Glasgow | Celtic Challenge 2024/25 | Match Highlights

Boks Office | Episode 31 | Investec Champions Cup Review

Global Schools Challenge | Day 2 Replay

The Backyard Bunch | The USA's Belmont Shore

AUSTRALIA vs USA behind the scenes | HSBC SVNS Embedded | E04

South Africa v France | HSBC SVNS Cape Town 2024 | Men's Final Match Highlights

Two Sides - Behind the scenes with the British & Irish Lions in South Africa | E01

Write A Comment