JULIAN Savea will line up against the All Blacks for the first time in the Killik Cup match at Twickenham on Saturday after the Barbarians named their side for the big game.
The wing – with 46 tries in 54 international appearances – makes his Baa-baa’s debut against a New Zealand side containing his younger brother Ardie.
A 2011 World Cup winner, scrum half Andy Ellis, captains the Baa-baas side who will field a back line featuring Super Rugby stars on the brink of international honours and committed to attacking in the best traditions of the famous club.
Former South Africa captain Adriaan Strauss provides the experience in a pack containing five internationals in Australia’s Sam Carter and New Zealanders Dom Bird, Steven Luatua and Luke Whitelock.
Former All Black Andy Ellis leads the Barbarians once more
There is a rare degree of continuity for the Barbarians, as nine of the players in Head Coach Robbie Deans’s squad featured in the successful 2016 tour when the Barbarians drew 31-31 with South Africa at Wembley before wins over the Czech Republic and Fiji.
The spotlight will be on Julian Savea as the last World Cup’s top try scorer returns to the scene of New Zealand’s 2015 triumph – and a potential head-on confrontation with flanker Ardie.
“It’s going to be strange coming up against Ardie – he beat me to playing with the Barbarians too so this will be cool,” said Savea.
“I’m not expecting any sort of leniency. I’m just going to step him, go round that way!”
It will be the 11th meeting between the sides with the Barbarians famously victorious in 1973 at Cardiff Arms Park and in the last meeting at Twickenham in 2009.
BARBARIANS
15 George Bridge (Crusaders)
14 Julian Savea (Hurricanes & New Zealand)
13 Richard Buckman (Highlanders)
12 Harold Vorster (Lions)
11 Vince Aso (Hurricanes)
10 Richie Mo’unga (Crusaders)
9 Andy Ellis (Kobelco Steelers & New Zealand, captain)
1 Jacques van Rooyen (Lions)
2 Adriaan Strauss (Bulls & South Africa, vice captain)
3 Atu Moli (Chiefs)
4 Sam Carter (Brumbies & Australia)
5 Dominic Bird (Chiefs & New Zealand)
6 Steven Luatua (Bristol & New Zealand)
7 Kwagga Smith (Lions)
8 Luke Whitelock (Highlanders & New Zealand, vice captain)
Replacements
16 Akker van der Merwe (Lions)
17 Ben Franks (London Irish & New Zealand)
18 Ruan Smith (Toyota Verblitz)
19 Willie Britz (Sunwolves)
20 Ruan Ackermann (Gloucester)
21 Mitchell Drummond (Crusaders)
22 Robert du Preez (Stormers)
23 Dillon Hunt (Highlanders)
Head coach: Robbie Deans
Assistant coach: Scott Robertson
Assistant coach: Will Greenwood
