QUADE Cooper leads an exciting young Barbarians team against Australia at the Allianz Stadium in Sydney on Saturday (3pm).
The Reds’ fly half is the most experienced in terms of Test appearances in the staring line-up with 70 caps. He makes his debut for the famous invitation club after appearing against them for Australia in 2014.
Cooper will run a cosmopolitan back line featuring Samoa full back Tim Nanai-Williams and New Zealanders Augustine Pulu and George Moala as well as three Aussies in Taqele Naiyaravoro, Tom Banks and Eto Nabuli.
Quade Cooper in action against the Barbarians in 2014
Another experienced Wallaby has been drafted into the forward pack with Wycliff Palu a late addition to the squad following the withdrawal of Jacques Potgieter through injury.
Veteran prop Ben Alexander has been added to the replacements following the ankle injury sustained by Sef Fa’agase and the bench also features teenage scrum half Theo Strang, an 18 year-old recent product of Scots College in Sydney.
Both teams will hope to produce a game as entertaining as their last meeting – Australia’s 40-36 win at Twickenham three years ago which was Michael Cheika’s first game in charge of the Wallabies.
BARBARIANS TEAM