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All Black to captain as Barbarians name team for Argentina
By Online Editors
New Zealand great Wyatt Crockett will captain the Barbarians against Argentina in the Killik Cup match at Twickenham on Saturday, December 1 (2.30pm).
The prop is a World Cup winner with 71 Tests behind him and the most-capped player in Super Rugby history after making 202 appearances for the Crusaders.
He leads a starting line-up that includes eight South African internationals and the famous invitation club’s squad includes representatives from eight countries in all.
Chiefs full back Jack Debreczeni — the traditional uncapped player in the starting side — lines up at full back with Tommaso Benvenuti (Italy), Tom English (Australia) and Leon Fukofuka (Tonga) joining three Springboks in the back line.
Crockett, Luke Jones (Australia) and Juan Manuel Leguizamon (Argentina) are part of a formidable forward contingent including South Africa’s captain Siya Kolisi.
The squad was augmented by the arrival of Cardiff Blues tight head Anton Peikrishvili. The Georgia prop is on the bench instead of France’s Alexandre Menini, who was recalled by Lyon.
The Barbarians are taking on Argentina for the third time in their 128-year history.
Barbarians:
The Pumas were beaten 34-22 at Cardiff 1990 but won the 2015 rematch 49-31. Lood de Jager is the sole survivor from the Baa-baas side that day.
Barbarians Team
15 Jack Debreczeni (Chiefs)
14 Tommaso Benvenuti (Benetton & Italy)
13 Tom English (Rebels & Australia)
12 Damian de Allende (Stormers & South Africa)
11 Aphiwe Dyantyi (Lions & South Africa)
10 Handre Pollard (Bulls & South Africa)
9 Leon Fukofuka (Auckland & Tonga)
1 Wyatt Crockett (Crusaders & New Zealand, Captain)
2 Schalk Brits (Stormers & South Africa)
3 Trevor Nyakane (Bulls & South Africa)
4 Luke Jones (Bordeaux Begles & Australia)
5 Lood de Jager (Bulls & South Africa)
6 Siya Kolisi (Stormers & South Africa)
7 Pieter-Steph du Toit (Stormers & South Africa)
8 Juan Manuel Leguizamon (Jaguares & Argentina)
Replacements
16 Steven Kitshoff (Stormers & South Africa)
17 Malcolm Marx (Lions & South Africa)
18 Anton Peikrishvili (Cardiff Blues & Georgia)
19 Sikhumbuzo Notshe (Stormers & South Africa)
20 Jordan Taufua (Crusaders)
21 Frank Lomani (Rebels & Fiji)
22 Jesse Kriel (Bulls & South Africa)
23 Elton Jantjies (Lions & South Africa)
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Latest Comments
I actually think Ulster are showing a few green shoots this year. The fact that they ahve the second biggest Provincial population of 2.3 million is misleading. Half the population are unlikely to play due to background. The other half have seen a fall off in private school attendance preferring to school in GB esp Scotland and lost to the system. That will reverse in time.
The solution to the thorny issue of participation based on political background can be solved by breaking Rugby as a truly mainstream sport in the rest of Ireland and thus a sport for all no matter what background.
The QF defeat to NZ in 2023 was a devastating blow to that potential but the IRFU must truly put a lot of resources into this via coaching in ‘regular’ schools and pathways though AIL league etc.
The URC standings of Irish provinces needs a little mitigation. Each club in URC plays their home clubs twice. As Leinster have decided the best strategy to win the URC and challenge in Champions Cup is to decisively have the league phase in the bag so resources can be spared later and home matches in all KOs assured. That means Munster, Ulster and Connaught will score a combined total of zero points against Leinster. Compare that to Welsh teams who will score a combined total of 30 points against Dragons.
There is no weak Irish team so no easy points on offer. The standard has dipped a little but Connaught are good as their European campaign shows and all three will improve next year including Ulster.
Go to commentsYes it will. Nobody gets an Australian, like an Australian.
Funnily enough South Africans say the same about South Africans, Kiwis say the same about
Kiwis, the English say the same about English, the Scottish say the same about Scots, the French say the same about the French.
Wales, well they have sold their souls to kiwis and the Palestinian loving Irish obviously place a low value on life as well and consequently, nationality.
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