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Saracens' Barbarians representation climbs to 11 as another 8 called in to face England
By Online Editors
The October 25 match at Twickenham is set to be an England vs Saracens type match after the Barbarians called up a further eight players from the London club, bringing their representation in Vern Cotter's squad to eleven.
Richard Wigglesworth, Jackson Wray and Manu Vunipola were all included by Cotter earlier this week and the Fijian coach has gone back to Mark McCall to further bolster the Barbarians by now calling in Sean Maitland, Tim Swinson, Joel Kpoku, Calum Clark, Dom Morris, Juan Pablo Socino, Alex Lewington and Tom Woolstencroft.
Cotter said: “The addition of these eight players into the squad brings an exciting mix of versatility, experience and youth.
"We are collecting a very strong mix of players and are looking forward to getting together in camp next week and creating a Barbarians team that will deliver the brand of rugby with flair, passion and excitement for which we’re known across the world.”
Second row Swinson was chuffed with his call-up. “Sarries tempted me out of retirement back in July, and it was such a good opportunity to play for my boyhood club and extend my career," he told the Saracens website. "Adding a Barbarians shirt to that next week will be a huge honour and I can’t wait to get into camp and build for the Quilter Cup.”
Maitland added: “I’ve been fortunate enough to be part of amazing playing squads like Saracens, Scotland and the Lions. Adding the Baa-Baas to that is something I’ve always hoped I would be able to do, and I’ll wear the shirt with great pride.”
As with Swinson, Argentinian fly-half Juan Pablo Socino joined Saracens in July and he will now enjoy a week with the Barbarians before the start of the 2020/21 Championship. “To join a club like Saracens was huge for me and my family. And now to join the ranks of incredible Argentinian players who have played for the Barbarians just shows how important that decision was!”
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In the fine tradition of Irish rugby, Leinster cheat well and for some reason only known to whoever referees them, they are allowed to get away with it every single game. If teams have not got the physicality up front to stop them getting the ball, they will win every single game. They take out players beyond the ruck and often hold them on the ground. Those that are beyond the ruck and therefore offside, hover there to cause distraction but also to join the next ruck from the side thereby stopping the jackal. The lineout prior to the second try on Saturday. 3 Leinster players left the lineout before the ball was thrown and were driving the maul as soon as the player hit the ground and thereby getting that valuable momentum. They scrummage illegally, with the looshead turning in to stop the opposing tighthead from pushing straight and making it uncomfortable for the hooker. The tighthead takes a step and tries to get his opposite loosehead to drop the bind. Flankers often ‘move up’ and actually bind on the prop and not remain bound to the second row. It does cause chaos and is done quickly and efficiently so that referees are blinded by the illegal tactics. I am surprised opposition coaches when they meet referees before games don’t mention it. I am also surprised that they do not go to the referees group and ask them to look at the tactics used and referee them properly. If they are the better team and win, fair play but a lot of their momentum is gained illegally and therefore it is not a level playing field.
Go to commentsI’d be fascinated to see what other candidates you all might have for the Lions captaincy role. Let me know, below 👍
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