Big-hitting DHL Western Province forward Michael Rhodes will line up on the flank for the Barbarians in Tuesday night’s 125th anniversary match against Leicester Tigers at Welford Road.
The Barbarians starting line-up includes Wallabies wing Nick Cummins and All Blacks trio Frank Halai, Francis Saili and Domini Bird – all of whom started the match against Australia at Twickenham on Saturday.
Springbok flanker Heinrich Brussow will start at No.7 on Tuesday, with Rhodes, after a brilliant Absa Currie Cup season for the title-winning DHL WP side, lining up at No.6 and Sharks veteran Jacques Botes packing down at No.8 in an all-South African back row.
Also included in the team for Tuesday are internationals Marnitz Boshoff (South Africa), Fumiaki Tanaka (Japan), Mahonri Schwalger (Samoa), Sean Duke and Jason Marshall (Canada), Matt Stevens (England/British & irish Lions) and DHL WP skipper Juan de Jongh who represented the Springboks at Welford Road in 2009 and started at Twickenham on Saturday.
Of course, both Rhodes and De Jongh will transfer to London after Tuesday evening’s clash where they will join up with their DHL WP teammates for Sunday’s one-off clash against Saracens at Allianz Park. (See more on that HERE!)
Australian squad member Tom English, meanwhile, has been drafted into the squad after receiving a special dispensation to play and will rejoin the Wallabies after the game, whilst Worcester Warriors hooker Neil Annett has also been added to the line-up.
“We’re very grateful to the head coaches of Australia, Canada and Worcester for releasing these players to join us,” said Barbarians head coach Sir John Kirwan.
“It’s a great gesture on the part of Michael Cheika, Kieran Crowley and Dean Ryan, and we hope all four players enjoy their time with us.”
Annett, Duke and Marshall linked up with the Barbarians today, after flyhalf Colin Slade and hooker James Parsons were called into the New Zealand squad for their international series.
The Barbarians come to Welford Road after a thrilling 40-36 defeat by Australia in an 11-try contest at Twickenham. The game was rounded off by a long-range try from flyhalf Boshoff that ranks as one of the club’s greatest and he starts against the Tigers.
The Barbarians team to take on Leicester Tigers at Welford Road is as follows:
15. Tevita Li (Blues)
14. Frank Halai (Blues and New Zealand)
13. Juan de Jongh (DHL Western Province and South Africa)
12. Francis Saili (Blues and New Zealand)
11. Nick Cummins (Coca-Cola West Red Sparks and Australia)
10. Marnitz Boshoff (Golden Lions and South Africa)
9. Fumiaki Tanaka (Highlanders and Japan)
8. Jacques Botes (Sharks)
7. Heinrich Brussow (Cheetahs and South Africa)
6. Michael Rhodes (DHL Western Province)
5. Alastair Kellock (Glasgow and Scotland – captain)
4. Dominic Bird (Canterbury and New Zealand)
3. Lourens Adriaanse (Sharks and South Africa)
2. Mahonri Schwalger (Chiefs and Samoa)
1. Thomas du Toit (Sharks)
Replacements (from):
Niall Annett (Worcester Warriors)
Jason Marshall (Hawke’s Bay and Canada)
Matt Stevens (Sharks and England)
Angus Ta’avao (Blues)
Steven Luatua (Blues and New Zealand)
Matt Todd (Crusaders and New Zealand)
Adam Thomson (Canon Eagles and New Zealand)
Sarel Pretorius (Cheetahs)
Sean Duke (UVIC and Canada)
Tom English (Rebels)